SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SUGAR STREAM

• US 20190323097A1
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fluid Quip Process Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Jakel, Neal, Pollmeier, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 10,480,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/35 Degradation products of starch, e.g. hydrolysates, dextrins; Enzymatically modified starches
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/104 Fermentation of farinaceous cereal or cereal material; Addition of enzymes or microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/107 Addition or treatment with enzymes not combined with fermentation with microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/00 Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• 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 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/16 Butanols
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/06 obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/08 Purifying
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biochemical production. In particular, after saccharification and prior to a sugar conversion process, a sugar/carbohydrate stream is removed from a saccharified stream. The sugar/carbohydrate stream includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose can be produced, with the such sugar stream being available for biochemical production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein and/or fiber. Sugar stream production occurs on the front end of the system and method.

Claims

1. A method for producing a sugar stream comprising:

mixing ground grain particles with a liquid to provide a slurry;

separating the slurry into an initial solids portion and an initial liquid portion,

subjecting the initial solids portion to liquefaction to provide a first liquefied starch solution including starch and the initial solids and subjecting at least a portion of the initial liquid portion to a separate liquefaction step to provide a second liquefied starch solution including starch;

thereafter, subjecting the second liquefied starch solution to saccharification to convert the starch to simple sugars and produce a saccharified stream including the simple sugars; and

after saccharification of the second liquefied starch solution but prior to further processing of the simple sugars, separating the saccharified stream into a solids portion and a liquid portion including the simple sugars,

wherein, prior to separating the saccharified stream into the solids portion and the liquid portion, the separated initial solids do not recombine with the saccharified stream of the second liquefied starch solution and wherein the separated liquid portion from the saccharified stream defines a sugar stream having a dextrose equivalent of at least 20 DE and a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 30% of a total solids content.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising subjecting the first liquefied starch solution to a separate saccharification step from the initial liquid portion to convert the starch in the first liquefied starch solution to simple sugars and produce a saccharified stream including the initial solids and the simple sugars for further processing, wherein, prior to separation of the saccharified stream of the second liquefied starch solution into the solids portion and the liquid portion including the simple sugar, the saccharified stream of the second liquefied starch solution does not combine with the saccharified stream of the first liquefied starch solution.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after separating the slurry into an initial solids portion and an initial liquid portion and prior to subjecting the initial solids portion to liquefaction, subjecting the initial solids portion to grinding.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to liquefaction along with the initial solids portion.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to the separate saccharification step along with the first liquefied starch solution.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to liquefaction along with the initial solids portion and subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to the separate saccharification step along with the first liquefied starch solution.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein separating the saccharified stream into a solids portion and a liquid portion including the simple sugars comprises, after saccharification of the initial liquid portion but prior to further processing of the simple sugars, separating, via a membrane or filtration device, the saccharified stream into the solids portion and the liquid portion.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising subjecting the sugar stream to a sugar conversion process to produce a biochemical.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sugar conversion process is fermentation.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the sugar conversion process includes a catalytic or chemical reaction.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the further processing of the saccharified stream including the simple sugars from the separate saccharification step comprises fermentation followed by distillation to produce an alcohol.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein fermentation and the separate saccharification step occur simultaneously.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising grinding grain and/or grain components into the ground grain particles.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial liquid portion includes at least a majority of the liquid from the slurry.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising subjecting at least a portion of the initial liquid portion, along with the initial solids portion, to liquefaction to provide the first liquefied starch solution.

29. The method of claim 8 further comprising subjecting the first liquefied starch solution to a separate saccharification step from the initial liquid portion to convert the starch in the first liquefied starch solution to simple sugars and produce a saccharified stream including the initial solids and the simple sugars, and subjecting the simple sugars of the saccharified stream of the first liquefied starch solution to a sugar conversion process that is separate from the sugar conversion process of the sugar stream.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the sugar conversion processes are separate fermentation processes.

16-28. -28. (canceled)

31. A method for producing a sugar stream comprising:

mixing ground grain particles with a liquid to provide a slurry;

separating the slurry into an initial solids portion and an initial liquid portion,

subjecting the initial solids portion to liquefaction to provide a first liquefied starch solution including starch and subjecting at least a portion of the initial liquid portion to a separate liquefaction step to provide a second liquefied starch solution including starch;

thereafter, subjecting the second liquefied starch solution to saccharification to convert the starch to simple sugars and produce a saccharified stream including the simple sugars; and

after saccharification of the second liquefied starch solution but prior to further processing of the simple sugars, separating the saccharified stream into a solids portion and a liquid portion including the simple sugars,

wherein the separated liquid portion from the saccharified stream defines a sugar stream having a dextrose equivalent of at least 20 DE and a total unfermentable solids fraction that is less than or equal to 30% of a total solids content, and wherein at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream is subjected to liquefaction along with the initial solids portion.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to the separate saccharification step along with the first liquefied starch solution.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to liquefaction along with the initial solids portion and subjecting at least a portion of the separated solids portion from the saccharified stream to the separate saccharification step along with the first liquefied starch solution.