Patent US4025394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4025394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fermentation processes using scraped tubular fermentor
Assignee: University of Waterloo
•
Filing: 1976-02-17
•
Granted: 1977-05-24
•
Expires: 1996-02-17
Abstract
Abstract Fermentation of a substrate by microorganisms capable of utilizing the substrate for growth is improved by conveying a fermentation medium including the substrate and microoganisms through a hollow tube with the assistance of an internal wall-scraper.
Inventors
- 👤 Murray Moo Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:06
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/06; C12M21/00; C12M21/14; C12M27/00; C12M27/02; C12M27/06; C12M41/00; C12M41/12; F; F24; F24V; F24V99/00; F28; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/06; F28F; F28F19/00; F28F19/008; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/804; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/921; Y10S435/923; Y10S435/945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of fermentation of a substrate by microorganisms capable of utilizing the substrate for growth, which comprises conveying a fermentation medium including said substrate and microorganisms through a hollow uncompartmented tube by scraping means which engage the interior surface of said tube fermenting said substrate by said microorganisms during said conveying of said fermentation medium through said tube, and scraping the internal walls of said tube during said conveying of said fermentation medium through said tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of fermentation of a substrate by microorganisms capable of utilizing the substrate for growth, which comprises conveying a fermentation medium including said substrate and microorganisms through a hollow uncompartmented tube by scraping means which engage the interior surface of said tube fermenting said substrate by said microorganisms during said conveying of said fermentation medium through said tube, and scraping the internal walls of said tube during said conveying of said fermentation medium through said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said fermentation is aerobic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein aeration is provided by blowing air through the tube from the inlet to the outlet end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said fermentation is anaerobic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said tube is completely full with the medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tube is partially full with the medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said medium is in the form of a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said medium is in the form of a liquid slurry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said substrate is in the form of solid particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said substrate is cellulose.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said microorganism is a mold, Trichoderma viride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said medium is in the form of solid particles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said medium is in the form of a paste.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including feeding gas streams into said tube at suitable intervals along the length thereof radially of the tube to achieve radial mixing of said fermentation medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said gas stream contains oxygen to provide aeration in said medium in addition to said radial mixing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scraping is achieved using a helical coil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scraping is achieved using a helical ribbon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scraping is achieved using an auger or screw.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scraping is achieved using a series of disc plates mounted substantially at right-angles to the tube walls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an extracellular enzyme is produced thereby.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said extracellular enzyme is a lipase and said microorganism is a Candida lipolytica yeast strain.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein microbial biomass is produced thereby.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said microbial biomass is a yeast, Candida lipolytica.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 including contacting said fermentation medium with heat-exchanger fluid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 including recycling a portion of the fermentation medium from any section of said tube to any preceding section thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tube is a single straight tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tube is curved.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tube is oriented substantially horizontally.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 including maintaining said fermentation medium in a plug flow pattern during said conveying of said fermentation medium through said tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-11-22 | 1981-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-11-22 | 1985-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-23 | 1988-11-22 | 1989-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |