CA1140872A - Method of producing ethanol by continuous fermentation - Google Patents

Method of producing ethanol by continuous fermentation

Info

Publication number
CA1140872A
CA1140872A CA000355452A CA355452A CA1140872A CA 1140872 A CA1140872 A CA 1140872A CA 000355452 A CA000355452 A CA 000355452A CA 355452 A CA355452 A CA 355452A CA 1140872 A CA1140872 A CA 1140872A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
flow
yeast
ethanol
fermentor
evaporator unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000355452A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Conny R. Thorsson
Indrek J. Viira
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alfa Laval AB
Original Assignee
Alfa Laval AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alfa Laval AB filed Critical Alfa Laval AB
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1140872A publication Critical patent/CA1140872A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12PFERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P7/00Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
    • C12P7/02Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group
    • C12P7/04Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group acyclic
    • C12P7/06Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/10Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Landscapes

  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Distillation Of Fermentation Liquor, Processing Of Alcohols, Vinegar And Beer (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

For continuous production of ethanol by fermenta-tion, fermenting liquor is fed directly from a fermentor to a simple evaporator unit where a vacuum is maintained and where the liquor is separated into a first vapor flow en-riched in ethanol, which is processed to the desired ethanol quality, and a yeast-containing bottom flow. Of the latter flow, part is recirculated to the fermentor while the rest is separated into a yeast concentrate flow, which is recir-culated to the fermentor, and a yeast-free flow which is fed to a stripping unit. The second vapor flow, enriched in ethanol, which is thus obtained from the stripping unit can be fed to the simple evaporator unit directly or indirectly.
The method is especially advantageous if the substrate is made by enzymatic break-down of cellulose or starch, as the enzymes in this case are not subjected to excessive tempera-tures but can be recovered.

Description

This invention relates to a method for producing ethanol by fermentation of a substrate containing carbo-hydrate,a yeast-containing flow being separated into a yeast-concentrate flow and a yeast-free flow.
Such methods are known in which the total flow of fermenting liquor is fed to a centrifugal separator for said separation, the yeast-concentrate flow being recirculated to the fermentor. The centrifugal separator utilized must have a capacity for separation of the total flow of fermenting liquor, from which the ethanol is obtained continuously, which can be a drawback. A method in which no centrifugal separator is needed, but in which the yeast is still pro-tected when recovering ethanol from fermenting liquor with continuous fermentation, is disclosed in Swedish Patent 15 Application No. 7801134. In this method, the fermentation is carried out at normal pressure, but the ethanol is recovered by distillation from a flow of fermenting liquor including yeast at vacuum pressure. Even if this method is suitable in many cases, it has certain drawbacks. The apparatus is rather complicated; and considering the amount of yeast present, the extent to which a flow enriched in ethanol can be evaporated is limited.
The principal object of this invention is to pro-vide a method of the type mentioned above in which the capacity of the utilized separation unit can be relatively low, wherein the yeast is recirculated without being damaged, and wherein there is great freedom in the choice of suitable operation data for the recovery of ethanol by distillation.
According to the invention, fermenting liquor is fed directly to a simple evaporator unit corresponding to one or only a few distilling stages and in which a vacuum is -1- t'','.~

: ~
A

8~

maintained. In the evaporator unit, the fermenting liquor is separated partly into a first vapor flow enriched in ethanol, which is fed to a plant for production of the desired ethanol quality, and partly into a first liquid, yeast-containing bottom flow. Part of the latter flow is recirculated to the fermentor while the residual part is separated into at least one yeast concentrate flow, which is recirculated to the fer-mentor, and into one yeast-free flow which is fed to a stripping unit, where it is separated into a second vapor flow enriched in ethanol and partly into a second liquid bottom flow, exhausted of ethanol.
In a preferred embodiment of the new method, the second vapor flow enriched in ethanol is fed to the simple evaporator unit either directly or as an indirect source of heat. The yeast is not exposed to any excessive temperature, but the temperature in the stripping unit may be higher than what could be tolerated by the yeast. According to the in-vention, heating surfaces in the evaporator unit may be dis-pensed with. Also, no high separator capacity is needed, and the operation conditions for the ethanol recovery may be chosen optimally.
If the substrate has been manufactured by enzy-matic break-down of cellulose or starch raw material, it is an advantage that the simple evaporator unit operate at a low pressure and thus at a low temperature. In that case the enzymes are not damaged but can be recovered. Also, the ten-dency of deposit formation is less in the simple evaporator unit if it is operated at a low temperature.
It is suitable to separate the yeast-containing bottom flow by a centrifugal separator into a yeast concen-trate flow and a yeast-free flow.
-2-8~2 The invention will now be described more in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which the single illustration is a schematic view of a system for carrying out the method.
The system as illustrated comprises at least one fermentor 1, a simple evaporator unit 2 corresponding to one or a few distilling stages, a centrifugal separator 3 and a simple stripping unit 4. A plant for production of the de-sired ethanol quality is indicated with a condenser 5 and a distilling column 6. A pipe 7 connects the fermentor 1 to the evaporator unit 2, from which a bottom line 8 divides into two branches 9 and 10. Branch 9 is connected to the centrifugal separator 3, and branch 10 is connected to the fermentor 1. The centrifugal separator 3 is provided with a sludge discharge 13. A line 14 connects the simple stripping unit 4 with the simple evaporator unit 2, from which a line 15 leads to the condenser 5. A feed pipe 16 delivers sub-strate to the fermentor, and a discharge pipe 17 is provided to discharge carbon dioxide formed in the fermentor. The simple evaporator unit 2 and the simple stripping unit 4 are provided with heating coils 18 and 19, respectively.
In the operation of the illustrated system, sub-strate is fed continuously through feed pipe 16, and a suit-able yeast concentration is maintained in fermentor 1. Fer-menting liquor including yeast is discharged continuously ~' through line 7 and is evaporated at a relatively low tem-.' perature under vacuum in the simple evaporator unit 2. The bottom flow is discharged through line 8 and is divided so . that one part is recirculated to fermentor 1 through line 10, and the residual part is fed to the centrifugal separa-tor 3 through line 9. In the centrifugal separator 3, the
-3-. -., ~' ' '.'' :

~ ~ 4~372 incoming flow is separated into a yeast concentrate flow,which is recirculated to fermentor 1 through line 12, a yeast-free flow which is fed to the simple stripping unit 4 through line 11, and an intermittent sludge flow which is discharged through pipe 13. The vapor flow (enriched in ethanol) from the simple stripping unit 4 is conducted through line 14 to the simple evaporator unit 2 and contri-butes to the heat feed to this unit. Vapor is fed as needed through heating coil 18 as well as through heating coil 19, which heats the simple stripping unit 4. The combined vapor flow, enriched in ethanol, from the simple evaporator unit 2 is discharged through line 15 to condenser 5 and is then fed to the distilling column 6 for production of the desired ethanol quality.
The following is an example of the operation of a system for carrying out the method according to the inven-tion:
Example Cane sugar molasses, 40Bx, is fed continuously through feed pipe 16 to fermentor 1, where a yeast concentra~
tion of 2.5% (weight) is maintained by recirculation. Under these conditions, a residence time of 6 hours is needed to obtain complete fermentation. A flow of fermenting liquor, containing 0.1-0.5% (weight) of non-fermented sugar and about 5% (weight) ethanol, is pumped continuously to simple evapo-rator unit 2, where a pressure of 50 mm Hg is maintained.
The fermented mash boils at 35 C, and vapor containing 30-35% (weight) ethanol is driven off and condensed in con-denser 5. The diluted ethanol is concentrated and further purified in distilling column 6.

.
:
4~872 The bottom flow from simple evaporator unit 2 is divided into two flows so that about 80% is recirculated through pipe 10 to fermentor 1, and 20% is centrifuged in centrifugal separator 3, which operates at a high rotational speed. The yeast concentrate is pumped to fermentor 1 through line 12 while the yeast-free flow is fed through pipe 11 to simple stripping unit 4, which is designed as a short column. The vapor, enriched in ethanol, from stripping unit 4 is led either directly to simple evaporator unit 2 or indirectly for heating of same, whereby the energy losses can be minimized. The bottom flow from simple stripping unit 4 contains about 35% (weight) soluble dry solids and can be treated further in a simple way, as in a combustion oven.
-5-., .

Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In the production of ethanol by fermentation of a carbohydrate-containing substrate in a fermentor, the method which comprises feeding fermenting liquor directly from the fermentor to a simple evaporator unit, maintaining a vacuum in the evaporator unit while separating said liquor therein partly into a first liquid yeast-containing bottom flow, treating said first vapor flow to produce ethanol of a desired quality, recirculating part of said first bottom flow to the fermentor, separating the remaining part of said first bottom flow into a yeast concentrate flow and a yeast-free flow, recirculating said yeast concentrate flow to the fermentor, and feeding said yeast-free flow to a stripping unit and there separating the yeast-free flow partly into a second vapor flow enriched in ethanol and partly into a second liquid bottom flow exhausted of ethanol.
2. The method of claim 1, which comprises also feeding said second vapor flow to said simple evaporator unit.
3. The method of claim 1, in which said separating of the remaining part of said first bottom flow is effected by centrifugal separation.
4. The method of claim 2, in which said separating of the remaining part of said first bottom flow is effected by centrifugal separation.
CA000355452A 1979-07-06 1980-07-04 Method of producing ethanol by continuous fermentation Expired CA1140872A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE7905916-8 1979-07-06
SE7905916A SE432442B (en) 1979-07-06 1979-07-06 PROCEDURE FOR PREPARING ETHANOL BY CONTINUOUS SPRAYING OF A CARBOHYDRATE-SUBSTRATE, WHICH AN ETHANOLANRICATED FLUID IS SEPARATED UNDER VACUUM BEFORE DISTRIBUTING THE VETERINARY WINE

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1140872A true CA1140872A (en) 1983-02-08

Family

ID=20338463

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000355452A Expired CA1140872A (en) 1979-07-06 1980-07-04 Method of producing ethanol by continuous fermentation

Country Status (13)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS56113295A (en)
AU (1) AU515814B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8004159A (en)
CA (1) CA1140872A (en)
DE (1) DE3023120A1 (en)
DK (1) DK289680A (en)
FR (1) FR2461005A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2054645B (en)
NL (1) NL8003504A (en)
NZ (1) NZ194151A (en)
PH (1) PH15742A (en)
SE (1) SE432442B (en)
ZA (1) ZA803706B (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0114161B1 (en) * 1983-01-13 1989-06-07 VOEST-ALPINE Aktiengesellschaft Process for the preparation of ethanol out of fermentable sugar solutions
AT388174B (en) * 1987-03-10 1989-05-10 Vogelbusch Gmbh METHOD FOR THE FERMENTATION OF CARBOHYDRATE-CONTAINING MEDIA USING BACTERIA
GB2438617A (en) * 2006-06-03 2007-12-05 Edward Arthur Jackman Continuous fermentation process for the production of ethyl alcohol
GB0905234D0 (en) 2009-03-26 2009-05-13 Agri Ltd Ab Protien recovery
US9963671B2 (en) 2009-03-26 2018-05-08 Ab Agri Limited Protein recovery

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2440925A (en) * 1944-04-27 1948-05-04 Chemprotin Producs Fermenting method
SE432441B (en) * 1979-02-27 1984-04-02 Alfa Laval Ab PROCEDURE FOR PREPARING ETHANOL BY CONTINUOUS SPRAYING OF A CARBOHYDRATE-SUBSTRATE, WHICH A DRINK WITH RELATIVE HIGH RATE OF SOLID SUBSTANCE RECOVERY

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA803706B (en) 1981-06-24
DK289680A (en) 1981-01-07
FR2461005B1 (en) 1983-07-18
PH15742A (en) 1983-03-18
GB2054645B (en) 1983-07-06
SE432442B (en) 1984-04-02
BR8004159A (en) 1981-01-21
GB2054645A (en) 1981-02-18
AU6012080A (en) 1981-01-15
NZ194151A (en) 1983-05-10
DE3023120A1 (en) 1981-02-12
AU515814B2 (en) 1981-04-30
JPS56113295A (en) 1981-09-07
NL8003504A (en) 1981-01-08
FR2461005A1 (en) 1981-01-30
SE7905916L (en) 1981-01-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1019519B1 (en) Method for conversion of biomass to chemicals and fuels
US4460687A (en) Fermentation method
US8906204B2 (en) Methods for alcohol recovery and concentration of stillage by-products
Maiorella et al. Alcohol production and recovery
US8722911B2 (en) Process and method for improving the water reuse, energy efficiency, fermentation, and products of an ethanol fermentation plant
US4822737A (en) Process for producing ethanol by fermentation
US7625728B2 (en) Process for the simultaneous production of xylitol and ethanol
FI86440B (en) FRAME FOR SAMPLING OF XYLITOL OR ETHANOL.
GB2054643A (en) Fermentation process for the manufacture of an organic compound
NO163868B (en) PROCEDURE FOR THE PREPARATION OF ETHANOL.
EP3479886A1 (en) Method and system for distilling alcohol in an alcohol production process
WO1989001522A1 (en) Process and apparatus for the continuous production of ethanol from cereals and method of operating said apparatus
CA1140873B (en) Production of volatile organic compound by continuous fermentation
CA1140872A (en) Method of producing ethanol by continuous fermentation
CN212356909U (en) Fermented mash evaporation concentration and rectification protein powder co-production system
CA1282358C (en) Method of continuously recovering fermentation products
CN111908691A (en) Method and system for co-producing protein powder by evaporation concentration and rectification of fermented liquor
WO2015085012A1 (en) Methods and systems for production of bioproducts
CN101941886B (en) Method for producing fermentation product
AU2018100802B4 (en) A method and system for the concentration of juice
CA1175370A (en) Fermentation method
CN217418690U (en) Ethanol production system
JPS6394966A (en) Concentration and recovery of fermentation alcohol
SU582274A1 (en) Method of producing alcohol
JPH01218592A (en) Continuous production of fermented alcohol

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry