ADVANCED BIOREFINERY PROCESS

• US 20120201947A1
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earnest Stuart
• Original Assignee: Earnest Stuart
• Inventors: Stuart, Earnest
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/635
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/16 Butanols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The present invention is a method for refining native biomass to extremely fine and highly disrupted particles using high shear and/or cavitation in combination with high temperature and high or low pH conditions which dissolve biomass to a high percentage. The method of the present invention results in a high percentage of hydrolysis, in many cases near theoretical levels, in short residence times while minimizing inputs over other methods, using low chemical inputs, and optionally with no chemical inputs in certain stages compared to existing processes. The method of the present invention also uses minimal electrical energy inputs and conserves heat energy within the process and reduces equipment requirements while producing concentrated products.

Claims

1. A method of refining biomass, comprising the steps of:

disrupting biomass cellular structure; and

dissolving the biomass at high temperatures with treatments.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of pretreating the biomass prior to said dissolving step.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of pretreating the biomass prior to said disrupting step.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said disrupting step includes disrupting the biomass cellular structure with high shear and/or cavitation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said disrupting step further includes disrupting the biomass cellular structure at high temperatures.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said dissolving step includes dissolving the biomass with chemicals selected from the group consisting essentially of acids, bases or alkali and ammonias.

7. The method of claim 1, further including a step for extracting water as steam during said dissolving step

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said recycling step further includes extracting water as steam from said dissolving step, condensing most of the steam into water and applying the water to incoming biomass for preheating.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said extracting step includes adding heat to portions of hydrolysis stream while controlling pressure, to produce extracted steam.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said dissolving step includes adding chemicals to neutralize pH after hydrolysis.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of extracting protein from the biomass prior to dissolving the biomass without heating the biomass to operational temperatures.

12. The method of claim 11, for use in increasing and maintaining product concentration.

13. The method of claim 1 for use in generating secondary compositions.

14. The use of claim 13, wherein said secondary compositions are selected from the group consisting essentially of ethanol, adhesives, bioplastics, biofuel, cattle feed, butanol, biothemicals and ethyl acetate.

16. A method of concentrating products formed by the method of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

removing water by adding heat to portions of hydrolysis stream while controlling pressure, to produce extracted steam and recondensing most of the steam.

15. An energy saving mechanism for use in biomass treatments, said energy saving mechanism comprising a heat and product recirculation loop.