Ensiling biomass for biofuels production and multiple phase apparatus for hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass

• US 8,529,765 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apalta Tehnoloogia Ou
• Original Assignee: SweetWater Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Horton, Jerry Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US12/633,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 210/143, 210/149, 210/202, 210/205, 210/209, 210/241, 210/257.1, 210/257.2, 210/259, 210/177, 210/182, 210/632, 210/639, 210/651, 210/652, 210/739, 210/749, 210/757, 210/758, 210/770, 210/774, 210/787, 210/806, 210/808, 443/02, 443/07, 445/88, 445/89, 446/05, 446/06, 127/1, 127/23, 127/24, 127/37, 127/36, 127/65, 127/67, 127/69, 127/71, 435134-136, 100/43, 100/70.R, 100/71, 100 73- 75, 100/90, 100/92, 100/308, 100/309, 100/37, 100/38
• US Class Current: 210/632
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/00 Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses digesters for manure A01C3/023; apparatus for PCR B01L7/52; destroying or transforming solid waste B09B3/00; methods for genetic engineering C12N15/00, C12Q1/68; nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/16 Solid state fermenters, e.g. for koji production
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/18 Fixed or packed bed
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/02 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/06 by chemical means or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/09 by enzymatic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for producing a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate, the method comprising:

treating a biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and/or lignocellulose with an acid in an acid treatment vessel to hydrolyze the cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose of the biomass composition, pressing the biomass in the acid treatment vessel, removing water from the acid treated biomass composition;

heat treating the dewatered, acid treated biomass composition with hot water in a heat treatment vessel;

pressing the heat treated biomass using a separator operatively coupled to the heat treatment vessel to separate a liquid precursor hydrozate from a solid precursor hydrozate; and

performing the preceding steps with a process control system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising concentrating the liquid precursor hydrozate with a water extraction device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the water extraction device is a reverse osmosis system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the water extraction device is an applied heat system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the water extraction device is an ultra filtration system.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the water extraction device is a nano filtration system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is conducted in a portable apparatus.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the separator is a mechanical press.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the separator is a centrifuge press.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the separator is a gravity press.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the liquid precursor hydrozate with one or more enzymes in an enzymatic treatment device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the solid precursor hydrozate with one or more enzymes in an enzymatic treatment device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and/or lignocellulose further comprises hard grains, starches, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose is corn stover, cereal straws, sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, paper pulp, waste materials, switchgrass, animal feed, paper, cardboard, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid is muriatic acid.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose is an ensiled biomass.