Bioprocessing

• US 9,434,973 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
• Inventors: Medoff, Marshall, Masterman, Thomas Craig, Medoff, Harrison
• Primary Examiner(s): Humphrey, Louise W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kosar, Aaron J
• Application Number:
  US14/863,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20160060668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of saccharifying a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material comprising:

contacting (i) a saccharifying agent that is immobilized on fibers or particles of an inorganic material with (ii) a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material to saccharify the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material,

wherein the saccharifying agent is an enzyme or microorganism,

wherein the inorganic material has been functionalized with carboxylic acid groups by irradiating the inorganic material with ionizing radiation, and

wherein the immobilization is due to interaction between functional groups on the fibers or particles and functional groups on the saccharifying agent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the saccharifying agent comprises an enzyme.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles comprise a synthetic material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area of greater than 100 m²/g.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles or 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 powders and ceramic fibers, alumina trihydrate, ground construction waste, ground tire rubber, lignin, maleated polypropylene, thermoplastic fibers, fluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a porosity greater than 70%.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a porosity greater than 90%.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering the particles or fibers after saccharification and reusing the particles in a second, subsequent saccharification process.

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

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

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

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles or fibers have a nano-scale average particle size.