Bioprocessing

• US 8,465,956 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Inventors: Medoff, Marshall, Masterman, Thomas Craig, Medoff, Harrison D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tate, Chris R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kosar, Aaron J
• Application Number:
  US13/293,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/176
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/00 Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/07 by electrical or electromagnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/00 Carrier-bound or immobilised enzymes; Carrier-bound or immobilised microbial cells; Preparation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/14 Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an inorganic carrier
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2203/00 Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source ethanol C12P7/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/02 containing a hydroxy group
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/065 with microorganisms other than yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/14 Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

Functionalized substrate materials, for example inorganic particles and/or synthetic polymeric particles, are used to enhance bioprocesses such as saccharification and fermentation.

Claims

1. A fermentation method comprising:

(a) functionalizing inorganic fibers by irradiating the fibers with ionizing radiation and quenching the irradiated fibers; and

(b) contacting a low molecular weight sugar with the functionalized inorganic fibers and a fermenting microorganism immobilized on the fibers, within a medium, for a period of time and under suitable fermentation conditions to convert the low molecular weight sugar to a fermentation product, whereby the immobilization occurs as a result of interaction between functional groups on the functionalized fibers and functional groups on the microorganism.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers comprise a synthetic material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight sugar is converted to an alcohol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism comprises a yeast.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the yeast is selected from the group consisting of S. cerevisiae and P. stipitis.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism comprises a bacterium.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the bacterium comprises Zymomonas mobilis.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight sugar is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, xylose, and mixtures thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein irradiating is performed using a particle beam.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have a BET surface area of greater than 100 m²/g.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the inorganic fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aragonite clay, orthorhombic clays, calcite clay, rhombohedral clays, kaolin, bentonite clay, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, trimagnesium phosphate, hydroxyapatites, synthetic apatites, alumina, hydrated alumina, silica xerogel, metal aluminosilicate complexes, sodium aluminum silicates, zirconium silicate, silicon dioxide, graphite, wollastonite, mica, glass, fiber glass, silica, talc, carbon fibers, conductive carbon black, ceramic fibers, alumina trihydrate, ground construction waste, and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have a porosity greater than 70%.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have a porosity greater than 90%.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering the inorganic fibers after fermenting and reusing the inorganic fibers in a second, subsequent fermentation.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers are provided in the form of a single or multi-layer sheet.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers are provided in the form of a fibrous material that is overlaid, folded, or in the form of a screen or mesh.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers are extruded or coextruded inorganic fibers.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have nano-scale average particle size.