Bioprocessing

• US 9,518,281 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• 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): Underdahl, Thane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kosar, Aaron J
• Application Number:
  US15/232,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 126 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 a synthetic material, wherein the synthetic material is a synthetic fiber, a plastic fiber, or a synthetic polymeric 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 synthetic material has been functionalized with carboxylic acid groups by irradiating the synthetic 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 or fibers have a Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area of greater than 100 m²/g.

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

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

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

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

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the 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.

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

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