Process to remove product alcohol from a fermentation by vaporization under vacuum

• US 8,574,406 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gevo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC (International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grady, Michael Charles, Parten, William D., Sylvester, Robert W., Zaher, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manoharan, Virginia
• Application Number:
  US13/023,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 203/14, 203/42, 203/49, 203/73, 203/78, 203/80, 568/916, 568/917, 951/49, 951/83
• US Class Current: 203/42
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/306 of potassium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/606 Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/2025 Ethers or esters of alkylene glycols, e.g. ethylene or propylene carbonate
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/20484 with one hydroxyl group
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/20489 with two or more hydroxyl groups
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/704 Solvents not covered by groups B01D2257/702 - B01D2257/7027
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/80 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/002 by continuous methods
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1487 Removing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/76 by physical treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/80 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/12 containing four carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO₂ is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO₂. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.

Claims

1. A method for removing a product alcohol from a fermentation liquid, comprising:

(a) at least partially vaporizing a fermentation liquid feed wherein a vapor stream is produced, the fermentation liquid feed and the vapor stream each comprising an amount water, a product alcohol and CO₂; and

(b) contacting the vapor stream with an absorption liquid under vacuum conditions wherein at least a portion of the vapor stream is absorbed into the absorption liquid to form an absorption liquid phase,

wherein the portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed includes an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and the CO₂, and

wherein the temperature at the onset of the absorption of an vapor stream into an absorption liquid is greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the (a) vaporizing comprises:

(i) removing the fermentation liquid feed from a fermentation vessel;

(ii) supplying the fermentation liquid feed to a multi-stage distillation column at a flow rate;

(iii) distilling the fermentation liquid feed to produce the vapor stream enriched in the product alcohol and a bottoms stream depleted in the product alcohol, wherein the distilling occurs under a pressure sufficiently below atmospheric to allow for the vapor stream to be produced; and

(iv) optionally, returning any portion of the bottoms stream to the fermentation vessel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the (a) vaporizing step and the (b) contacting step are carried out at pressures from about 0.02 to about 0.2 bar.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the (a) vaporizing step and the (b) contacting step are carried out at pressures from about 0.05 to about 0.1 bar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein about 50% to about 99% of the vapor stream is absorbed into the absorption liquid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid is about 2°

C. to about 30°

C. greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the product alcohol is butanol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the product alcohol is isobutanol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorption liquid comprises a water soluble organic molecule with a boiling point about 30°

C. greater than the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the organic molecule is an amine.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the amine is selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine (MEA), 2-amino 2-methyl propanol (AMP), and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorption liquid comprises potassium carbonate and ethylene glycol.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorption liquid comprises glycol.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the glycol is ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the absorption liquid is ethylene glycol.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorption liquid is MEA, AMP, MDEA, or any mixture thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the absorption liquid is MEA.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the absorption liquid is AMP.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the absorption liquid is MDEA.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the absorption liquid is a mixture of at least two of MEA, AMP, and MDEA.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising distilling the absorption liquid phase containing the absorbed vapor stream under conditions sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the water, the product alcohol, and the CO₂ from the absorption liquid.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein a substantial portion of the CO₂ and at least a portion of at least one of the product alcohol and the water or both are absorbed into the absorption liquid.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a substantial portion of each of the CO₂, the product alcohol and the water are absorbed into the absorption liquid.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the (a) vaporizing step, one or both of (i) gas stripping a portion of the CO₂ from the fermentation liquid feed and (ii) vaporizing a portion of the CO₂ from the fermentation liquid feed.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a portion of the CO₂ from the fermentation liquid feed is gas stripped from the fermentation liquid feed prior to the (a) vaporizing step, where the portion of the CO₂ is gas stripped by countercurrent contact of the fermentation liquid feed with a noncondensible gas.