US4497896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fermentation of glucose with recycle of non-fermented components
Assignee: St Lawrence Technologies Ltd
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Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1985-02-05
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Expires: 2002-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A feedstock slurry of starch and acid is continuously moved through a high intensity tubular starch hydrolyzer to produce a fluid hydrolyzate containing glucose. This glucose-containing fluid is then fermented to form a fermentation product containing ethanol which is then distilled to separate the ethanol from the residue of the distillation which contains non-fermented carbohydrate materials. At least part of the distillation residue is recycled as part of the feedstock slurry of starch and acid to the hydrolyzer, thus allowing a substantial portion of the previously unfermented feedstock to be hydrolyzed to a fermentable glucose-containing fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Per G. Assarsson
- 👤 Joseph H. Nagasuye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:11
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/001; C; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/02; C12P7/04; C12P7/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A process for producing ethanol which comprises: (a) continuously moving a slurry of carbohydrate material through a confined tubular preheat zone and transferring sufficient heat to the slurry whereby it passes through a gelation stage and forms into a hot free flowing liquid and immediately forcing said hot liquid through a restrictive opening and into a confined tubular reaction zone accompanied by a sudden decrease in pressure at a rate so that the carbohydrate material is made highly reactive and continuously moving the highly reactive carbohydrate material, together with an acid hydrolyzing agent, through the tubular reaction zone as a single hydrolysis stage to produce a hydrolyzate in fluid form containing at least 85% glucose, (b) fermenting the glucose-containing fluid to form a fermentation product containing ethanol, (c) distilling the fermentation product to separate ethanol from a distillation residue containing non-fermented carbohydrate materials and (d) passing at least part of the obtained distillation residue containing non-fermented carbohydrate materials through the single hydrolysis state (a) whereby a portion of said non-fermented materials is hydrolyzed to a fermentable glucose-containing liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A process for producing ethanol which comprises: (a) continuously moving a slurry of carbohydrate material through a confined tubular preheat zone and transferring sufficient heat to the slurry whereby it passes through a gelation stage and forms into a hot free flowing liquid and immediately forcing said hot liquid through a restrictive opening and into a confined tubular reaction zone accompanied by a sudden decrease in pressure at a rate so that the carbohydrate material is made highly reactive and continuously moving the highly reactive carbohydrate material, together with an acid hydrolyzing agent, through the tubular reaction zone as a single hydrolysis stage to produce a hydrolyzate in fluid form containing at least 85% glucose, (b) fermenting the glucose-containing fluid to form a fermentation product containing ethanol, (c) distilling the fermentation product to separate ethanol from a distillation residue containing non-fermented carbohydrate materials and (d) passing at least part of the obtained distillation residue containing non-fermented carbohydrate materials through the single hydrolysis state (a) whereby a portion of said non-fermented materials is hydrolyzed to a fermentable glucose-containing liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate material is starch or a starch-containing material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for producing ethanol which comprises: (a) continuously moving a feedstock slurry of starch and acid through a high intensity tubular starch hydrolyzer as a single hydrolysis stage to produce a hydrolyzate in fluid form containing glucose, (b) fermenting the glucose-containing fluid to form a fermentation product containing ethanol, (c) distilling the fermentation product to separate the ethanol from a distillation residue containing non-fermented carbohydrate materials and, (d) recycling at least part of the obtained distillation residue as part of the starch and acid slurry feedstock to the single hydrolysis stage whereby a portion of the recycled non-fermented carbohydrate materials is hydrolyzed together with the starch to a fermentable glucose-containing fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for producing ethanol which comprises: (a) continuously moving a feedstock slurry of starch and acid through a high intensity tubular starch hydrolyzer as a single hydrolysis stage to produce a hydrolyzate in fluid form containing glucose, (b) fermenting the glucose-containing fluid to form a fermentation product containing ethanol, (c) distilling the fermentation product to separate the ethanol from a distillation residue containing non-fermented carbohydrate materials and, (d) recycling at least part of the obtained distillation residue as part of the starch and acid slurry feedstock to the single hydrolysis stage whereby a portion of the recycled non-fermented carbohydrate materials is hydrolyzed together with the starch to a fermentable glucose-containing fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein a hydrolysate containing at least 85% glucose is formed within about 3 minutes in the hydrolyzer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for producing ethanol which comprises: (a) continuously moving a feedstock slurry of ground cereal grain and acid through a high intensity tubular starch hydrolyzer as a single hydrolysis stage to produce a hydrolyzate in fluid form containing glucose together with fibre, protein and other residues from the cereal grain, (b) fermenting the glucose-containing fluid to form a fermentation product containing ethanol, (c) distilling the fermentation product to separate the ethanol from a distillation residue containing non-fermented materials and, (d) recycling at least part of the obtained distillation residue as part of the feedstock to the single hydrolysis stage whereby a portion of the recycled non-fermented carbohydrate materials is hydrolyzed together with the cereal grain to a fermentable glucose-containing fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for producing ethanol which comprises: (a) continuously moving a feedstock slurry of ground cereal grain and acid through a high intensity tubular starch hydrolyzer as a single hydrolysis stage to produce a hydrolyzate in fluid form containing glucose together with fibre, protein and other residues from the cereal grain, (b) fermenting the glucose-containing fluid to form a fermentation product containing ethanol, (c) distilling the fermentation product to separate the ethanol from a distillation residue containing non-fermented materials and, (d) recycling at least part of the obtained distillation residue as part of the feedstock to the single hydrolysis stage whereby a portion of the recycled non-fermented carbohydrate materials is hydrolyzed together with the cereal grain to a fermentable glucose-containing fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein a hydrolysate containing at least 85% glucose is formed within about 3 minutes in the hydrolyzer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the cereal grain is corn.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-05 | 1988-08-06 | 1989-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-05 | 1992-08-06 | 1993-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-05 | 1996-08-06 | 1997-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |