WO2010135366A1 - System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol - Google Patents
System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2010135366A1 WO2010135366A1 PCT/US2010/035316 US2010035316W WO2010135366A1 WO 2010135366 A1 WO2010135366 A1 WO 2010135366A1 US 2010035316 W US2010035316 W US 2010035316W WO 2010135366 A1 WO2010135366 A1 WO 2010135366A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- fermentation product
- biomass
- percent
- corn
- lignin
- Prior art date
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- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 225
- 239000002028 Biomass Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 109
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 title claims description 63
- 238000000855 fermentation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 121
- 230000004151 fermentation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 119
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 81
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 51
- 229920005610 lignin Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 49
- 235000000346 sugar Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 39
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 150000008163 sugars Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 239000002029 lignocellulosic biomass Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 27
- 229920002488 Hemicellulose Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000003301 hydrolyzing effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 240000008042 Zea mays Species 0.000 claims description 39
- 235000005824 Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Nutrition 0.000 claims description 39
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 claims description 39
- 235000005822 corn Nutrition 0.000 claims description 39
- 241001057636 Dracaena deremensis Species 0.000 claims description 32
- 238000002203 pretreatment Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000010903 husk Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 60
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 22
- SRBFZHDQGSBBOR-IOVATXLUSA-N D-xylopyranose Chemical compound O[C@@H]1COC(O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O SRBFZHDQGSBBOR-IOVATXLUSA-N 0.000 description 20
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 18
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 16
- PYMYPHUHKUWMLA-UHFFFAOYSA-N arabinose Natural products OCC(O)C(O)C(O)C=O PYMYPHUHKUWMLA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 14
- SRBFZHDQGSBBOR-UHFFFAOYSA-N beta-D-Pyranose-Lyxose Natural products OC1COC(O)C(O)C1O SRBFZHDQGSBBOR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 14
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 13
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N Glucose Natural products OC[C@H]1OC(O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N 0.000 description 11
- 239000008103 glucose Substances 0.000 description 11
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 10
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Acetic acid Chemical compound CC(O)=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 7
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000018044 dehydration Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000006297 dehydration reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- HYBBIBNJHNGZAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N furfural Chemical compound O=CC1=CC=CO1 HYBBIBNJHNGZAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000012978 lignocellulosic material Substances 0.000 description 6
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000007062 hydrolysis Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000006460 hydrolysis reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000010907 stover Substances 0.000 description 5
- 240000006394 Sorghum bicolor Species 0.000 description 4
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 4
- PYMYPHUHKUWMLA-WDCZJNDASA-N arabinose Chemical compound OC[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)C=O PYMYPHUHKUWMLA-WDCZJNDASA-N 0.000 description 4
- 235000013405 beer Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 4
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 108090000790 Enzymes Proteins 0.000 description 3
- 102000004190 Enzymes Human genes 0.000 description 3
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-VFUOTHLCSA-N beta-D-glucose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-VFUOTHLCSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229940088598 enzyme Drugs 0.000 description 3
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000013618 particulate matter Substances 0.000 description 3
- 210000005253 yeast cell Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- NOEGNKMFWQHSLB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 5-hydroxymethylfurfural Chemical compound OCC1=CC=C(C=O)O1 NOEGNKMFWQHSLB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 241001520808 Panicum virgatum Species 0.000 description 2
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphoric acid Chemical compound OP(O)(O)=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000011684 Sorghum saccharatum Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000005054 agglomeration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002776 aggregation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000413 hydrolysate Substances 0.000 description 2
- RJGBSYZFOCAGQY-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydroxymethylfurfural Natural products COC1=CC=C(C=O)O1 RJGBSYZFOCAGQY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003112 inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000007524 organic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 235000005985 organic acids Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000004449 solid propellant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006188 syrup Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000020357 syrup Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 2
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M Acetate Chemical compound CC([O-])=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 241000219310 Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Species 0.000 description 1
- 108010059892 Cellulase Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241000202567 Fatsia japonica Species 0.000 description 1
- 244000068988 Glycine max Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000010469 Glycine max Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000005979 Hordeum vulgare Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000007340 Hordeum vulgare Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitric acid Chemical compound O[N+]([O-])=O GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 240000004808 Saccharomyces cerevisiae Species 0.000 description 1
- 240000000111 Saccharum officinarum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000007201 Saccharum officinarum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000021536 Sugar beet Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000009430 Thespesia populnea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000021307 Triticum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000098338 Triticum aestivum Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910000147 aluminium phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002551 biofuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005119 centrifugation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 cobs Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010411 cooking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000280 densification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000029087 digestion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005194 fractionation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002402 hexoses Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000009533 lab test Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011068 loading method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910017604 nitric acid Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006722 reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
- C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
- C12P7/02—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group
- C12P7/04—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group acyclic
- C12P7/06—Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
- C12P7/08—Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate
- C12P7/10—Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate substrate containing cellulosic material
-
- Y—GENERAL 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
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a system for treatment of biomass in the production of ethanol.
- the present invention also relates to a system for treatment of fermented biomass before the fermented biomass is supplied to a distillation system in order to facilitate the efficient production of ethanol.
- Ethanol can be produced from grain-based feedstocks (e.g. corn, sorghum/milo, barley, wheat, soybeans, etc.), from sugar (e.g. from sugar cane, sugar beets, etc.), and from biomass (e.g. from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass, corn cobs and stover, wood or other plant material).
- grain-based feedstocks e.g. corn, sorghum/milo, barley, wheat, soybeans, etc.
- sugar e.g. from sugar cane, sugar beets, etc.
- biomass e.g. from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass, corn cobs and stover, wood or other plant material.
- Biomass comprises plant matter that can be suitable for direct use as a fuel/energy source or as a feedstock for processing into another bioproduct (e.g., a biofuel such as cellulosic ethanol) produced at a biorefinery (such as an ethanol plant).
- Biomass may comprise, for example, corn cobs and stover (e.g., stalks and leaves) made available during or after harvesting of the corn kernels, fiber from the corn kernel, switchgrass, farm or agricultural residue, wood chips or other wood waste, and other plant matter).
- biomass will be harvested and collected from the field and transported to the location where it is to be used or processed.
- ethanol is produced from starch.
- Corn kernels may be processed to separate the starch-containing material (e.g. endosperm) from other matter (such as fiber and germ).
- the starch- containing material is slurried with water and liquefied to facilitate saccharification where the starch is converted into sugar (e.g. glucose) and fermentation where the sugar is converted by an ethanologen (e.g. yeast) into ethanol.
- the product of fermentation e.g. fermentation product
- beer comprises a liquid component containing ethanol and water (among other things) and a solids component containing unfermented particulate matter (among other things).
- the liquid component and solids component of the fermentation product is sent to a distillation system.
- the fermentation product is distilled and dehydrated into, among other things, ethanol and stillage containing wet solids (e.g., the solids component of the beer with substantially all ethanol removed) that can be dried into dried distillers grains (DDG) and sold as an animal feed product.
- DDG dried distillers grains
- Other co-products for example syrup (and oil contained in the syrup), can also be recovered from the stillage. Water removed from the fermentation product in distillation can be treated for re-use at the plant.
- ethanol is produced from lignocellulosic material (e.g., cellulose and/or hemi-cellulose).
- the biomass is prepared so that sugars in the cellulosic material (such as glucose from the cellulose and xylose from the hemi-cellulose) can be accessed and fermented into a fermentation product that comprises ethanol (among other things).
- the fermentation product is then sent to the distillation system, where the ethanol is recovered by distillation and dehydration.
- Other bioproducts such as lignin and organic acids may also be recovered as co-products. Determination of how to more efficiently prepare and treat the biomass for production into ethanol will depend upon (among other things) the form, type and composition of the biomass.
- the present invention relates to a method for treating fermented lignocellulosic biomass to be supplied to a distillation system for production of ethanol.
- the method includes pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass into pre-treated biomass and separating the pre-treated biomass into a liquid component comprising sugars and a solids component comprising cellulose and lignin.
- the method also includes hydrolysing the solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and lignin and fermenting the hydrolysed solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a fermentation product comprising ethanol and lignin.
- the method also includes treating the fermentation product and distilling the treated fermentation product to recover the ethanol.
- the lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin.
- the present invention also relates to a system for treating fermented lignocellulosic biomass.
- the system comprises a pre-treatment system that creates pre- treated biomass from lignocellulosic biomass and a separation system that separates the pre-treated biomass into a liquid component comprising sugars and a solids component comprising cellulose and lignin.
- the system also comprises a first treatment system that hydrolyses the solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and lignin and a fermentation system that ferments the hydrolysed solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a fermentation product comprising ethanol and lignin.
- the system comprises a second treatment system that treats the fermentation product and a distillation system that distills the treated fermentation product to recover the ethanol.
- the second treatment system heats the fermentation product.
- FIGURE IA is a perspective view of a biorefinery comprising a cellulosic ethanol production facility.
- FIGURE IB is a perspective view of a biorefinery comprising a cellulosic ethanol production facility and a corn-based ethanol production facility.
- FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for receipt and preparation of biomass for a cellulosic ethanol production facility.
- FIGURE 3 is a schematic block diagram of a system for the production of ethanol from biomass.
- FIGURES 4A, 4B and 4C are schematic block diagrams of systems for treatment and processing of components from the production of ethanol from biomass.
- FIGURE 5A is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus used for preparation, pre-treatment and separation of biomass.
- FIGURE 5B is a perspective view of an apparatus used to pre-treat and separate the biomass.
- FIGURES 6A and 6B are schematic diagrams of the process flow for systems for the production of ethanol from biomass.
- FIGURES 7A and 7B are schematic block diagrams of a treatment system according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGURE 8 is a schematic block diagram of a treatment system according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGURE 9A is a perspective view of a distillation column.
- FIGURE 9B is a schematic diagram of a distillation column.
- FIGURE 10 is a schematic view of a sieve tray.
- FIGURE 11 is a graph showing the effect of distillation trays and treatment of distillation runtime.
- FIGURE 12 is a graph showing the effect of treatment on the particle size of the fermentation product.
- FIGURES 13A, 13B, and 13C are graphical presentations of typical operating conditions of a treatment system.
- TABLES IA and IB list the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic plant material from the corn plant according to exemplary and representative embodiments.
- TABLES 2A and 2B list the composition of the liquid component of pre- treated biomass according to exemplary and representative embodiments.
- TABLES 3A and 3B list the composition of the solids component of pre- treated biomass according to exemplary and representative embodiments.
- TABLES 4A and 4B list the average composition of the fermentation product.
- FIGURE IA a biorefinery 100 configured to produce ethanol from biomass is shown.
- the biorefinery 100 is configured to produce ethanol from biomass in the form of a lignocellulosic feedstock such as plant material from the corn plant (e.g. corn cobs and corn stover).
- a lignocellulosic feedstock such as plant material from the corn plant
- the biorefinery comprises an area where biomass is delivered and prepared to be supplied to the cellulosic ethanol production facility.
- the cellulosic ethanol production facility comprises apparatus for preparation 102, pre-treatment 104 and treatment of the biomass into treated biomass suitable for fermentation into fermentation product in a fermentation system 106.
- the facility comprises a distillation system 108 in which the fermentation product is distilled and dehydrated into ethanol.
- the biorefinery may also comprise a waste treatment system 110 (shown as comprising an anaerobic digester and a generator).
- the waste treatment system may comprise other equipment configured to treat, process and recover components from the cellulosic ethanol production process, such as a solid/waste fuel boiler, anaerobic digester, aerobic digester or other biochemical or chemical reactors.
- a biorefinery 112 may comprise a cellulosic ethanol production facility 114 (which produces ethanol from lignocellulosic material and components of the corn plant) co- located with a corn-based ethanol production facility 116 (which produces ethanol from starch contained in the endosperm component of the corn kernel).
- certain plant systems may be shared, for example, systems for dehydration, storage, denaturing and transportation of ethanol, energy/fuel-to-energy generation systems, plant management and control systems, and other systems.
- Corn fiber (a component of the corn kernel), which can be made available when the corn kernel is prepared for milling (e.g. by fractionation) in the corn-based ethanol production facility, may be supplied to the cellulosic ethanol production facility as a feedstock.
- Fuel or energy sources such as methane or lignin from the cellulosic ethanol production facility may be used to supply power to either or both co-located facilities.
- a biorefinery e.g.
- a cellulosic ethanol production facility may be co- located with other types of plants and facilities, for example an electric power plant, a waste treatment facility, a lumber mill, a paper plant or a facility that processes agricultural products.
- the biomass preparation system may comprise apparatus for receipt/unloading of the biomass, cleaning (e.g. removal of foreign matter), grinding (e.g. milling, reduction or densification), and transport and conveyance for processing at the plant.
- biomass in the form of corn cobs and stover may be delivered to the biorefinery and stored 202 (e.g.
- the biomass may comprise at least 20 to 30 percent corn cobs (by weight) with corn stover and other matter.
- the preparation system 204 of the biorefinery may be configured to prepare any of a wide variety of types of biomass (e.g. plant material) for treatment and processing into ethanol and other bioproducts at the plant.
- biomass comprising plant material from the corn plant is prepared and cleaned at a preparation system. After preparation, the biomass is mixed with water into a slurry and is pre- treated at a pre-treatment system 302. In the pre-treatment system 302, the biomass is broken down (e.g. by hydrolysis) to facilitate separation 304 into a liquid component (e.g. a stream comprising the C5 sugars) and a solids component (e.g. a stream comprising cellulose from which the C6 sugars can be made available).
- a liquid component e.g. a stream comprising the C5 sugars
- a solids component e.g. a stream comprising cellulose from which the C6 sugars can be made available.
- the C5-sugar- containing liquid component (C5 stream) and C6- sugar-containing solids component (C6 stream) can be treated in a treatment system 306 (as may be suitable) and fermented in a fermentation system 308. Fermentation product from the fermentation system 308 is supplied to a distillation system 310 where the ethanol is recovered. [0036] As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4A, removed components from treatment of the C5 stream can be treated or processed to recover by-products, such as organic acids, furfural, and lignin.
- by-products such as organic acids, furfural, and lignin.
- the biomass comprises plant material from the corn plant, such as corn cobs, husks and leaves and stalks (e.g. at least upper half or three-quarters portion of the stalk); the composition of the plant material (e.g.
- the plant material comprises corn cobs, husks/leaves and stalks; for example, the plant material may comprise (by weight) up to 100 percent cobs, up to 100 percent husks/leaves, approximately 50 percent cobs and approximately 50 percent husks/leaves, approximately 30 percent cobs and approximately 50 percent husks/leaves and approximately 20 percent stalks, or any of a wide variety of other combinations of cobs, husks/leaves and stalks from the corn plant. See TABLE IA.
- the lignocellulosic plant material may comprise fiber from the corn kernel (e.g. in some combination with other plant material).
- TABLE IB provides typical and expected ranges believed to be representative of the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic material from the corn plant.
- the lignocellulosic plant material of the biomass (from the corn plant, such as corn cobs, corn plant husks, corn plant leaves, and corn stalks) will comprise (by weight) cellulose at about 30 to 55 percent by weight, hemicellulose at about 20 to 50 percent by weight, and lignin at about 10 to 25 percent by weight; according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the lignocellulosic plant material of the biomass (e.g. cobs, husks/leaves and stalk portions from the corn plant) will comprise (by weight) cellulose at about 35 to 45 percent by weight, hemicellulose at about 24 to 42 percent by weight, and lignin at about 12 to 20 percent by weight.
- pre-treatment of the biomass will yield a liquid component that comprises (by weight) xylose at no less than 1.0 percent and a solids component that comprises (by weight) cellulose (from which glucose can be made available) at no less than 45 percent.
- FIGURES 5A and 5B show the apparatus 500 used for preparation, pre- treatment and separation of lignocellulosic biomass according to an exemplary embodiment.
- biomass is prepared in a grinder 502 (e.g. grinder or other suitable apparatus or mill).
- Pre-treatment 504 of the prepared biomass is performed in a reaction vessel (or set of reaction vessels) supplied with prepared biomass and acid/water in a predetermined concentration (or pH) and other operating conditions.
- the pre-treated biomass can be separated in a centrifuge 506 into a liquid component (C5 stream comprising primarily liquids with some solids) and a solids component (C6 stream comprising liquids and solids such as lignin and cellulose from which glucose can be made available by further treatment).
- a liquid component C5 stream comprising primarily liquids with some solids
- a solids component C6 stream comprising liquids and solids such as lignin and cellulose from which glucose can be made available by further treatment.
- an acid will be applied to the prepared biomass to facilitate the breakdown of the biomass for separation into the liquid component (C5 stream from which fermentable C5 sugars can be recovered) and the solids component (C6 stream from which fermentable C6 sugars can be accessed).
- the acid can be applied to the biomass in a reaction vessel under determined operating conditions (e.g.
- an acid such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, etc. (or a formulation/mixture of acids) can be applied to the biomass.
- sulfuric acid will be applied to the biomass in pre-treatment.
- the liquid component (C5 stream) comprises water, dissolved sugars
- the liquid component may comprise approximately 5 to 7 percent solids (e.g. suspended/residual solids such as partially- hydrolysed hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin).
- the liquid component will comprise at least 2 to 4 percent xylose (by weight); according to other exemplary embodiments, the liquid component will comprise no less than 1 to 2 percent xylose (by weight).
- TABLES 2A and 2B list the composition of the liquid component of pre-treated biomass (from prepared biomass as indicated in TABLES IA and IB) according to exemplary and representative embodiments.
- the solids component comprises water, acids and solids such as cellulose from which sugar, such as glucose, can be made available for fermentation into ethanol, and lignin.
- sugar such as glucose
- TABLE 3B provides typical and expected ranges believed to be representative of the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic material from the corn plant.
- the solids component may comprise approximately 10 to 40 percent solids (by weight) (after separation); according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the solids component will comprise approximately 20 to 30 percent solids (by weight).
- the solids in the solids component comprise no less than 30 percent cellulose and the solids component may also comprise other dissolved sugars (e.g. glucose and xylose).
- TABLES 3A and 3B list the composition of the solids component of pre-treated biomass (from prepared biomass as indicated in TABLES IA and IB) according to exemplary and representative embodiments.
- the severity of operating conditions may cause formation of components that are inhibitory to fermentation.
- C5 sugars such as xylose or arabinose
- Acetic acid may also be formed, for example, when acetate is released during the break down of hemicellulose in pre-treatment.
- Sulfuric acid which may be added to prepared biomass to facilitate pre-treatment, if not removed or neutralized, may also be inhibitory to fermentation.
- the formation of inhibitors can be reduced or managed; according to other exemplary embodiments, components of the pre-treated biomass may be given further treatment to remove or reduce the level of inhibitors (or other undesirable matter).
- pre-treatment conditions such as pH, temperature and time
- biomass can be pre-treated by mixing prepared biomass with water and acid (e.g. sulfuric acid) to form a slurry that comprises approximately 10 to 30 percent solids (by weight) from the biomass and approximately 0.8 to 1.3 percent acid (by weight).
- acid e.g. sulfuric acid
- the temperature of the slurry is held at approximately 130 to 185 degrees Celsius for about 3 to 15 minutes.
- the pre-treatment is conducted in a closed reaction vessel at a pressure that may increase during the reaction from ambient pressure to approximately 100 to 120 pounds per square inch.
- C5 stream and the C6 stream are processed separately; as shown, the C5 stream and the C6 stream may be processed separately (in separate treatment systems 610, 612) prior to co-fermentation 614 (C5/C6 fermentation as shown in FIGURE 6A) or processed separately (in separate treatment systems 610, 612) including separate fermentation (separate C5 fermentation and C6 fermentation 616, 618 as shown in FIGURE 6B).
- Treatment of the C5 stream (liquid component) of the biomass may be performed in an effort to remove components that are inhibitory to efficient fermentation (e.g.
- the C5 sugars in the C5 stream may also be concentrated to improve the efficiency of fermentation (e.g. to improve the titer of ethanol for distillation).
- Treatment of the C6 stream (solids component) of the biomass may be performed to make the C6 sugars available for fermentation.
- hydrolysis such as enzyme hydrolysis
- treatment may also be performed in an effort to remove lignin and other non-fermentable components in the C6 stream (or to remove components such as residual acid or acids that may be inhibitory to efficient fermentation).
- the C5 stream and the C6 stream can be treated separately and subsequently combined after treatment (e.g. as a slurry) for co-fermentation 614 in the fermentation system to produce a C5/C6 fermentation product from the available sugars (e.g. xylose and glucose); the C5/C6 fermentation product can (after treatment 620, if any) be supplied to the distillation system 622 for recovery of the ethanol (e.g. through distillation and dehydration).
- treatment 620 if any
- the C5 stream and the C6 stream can each be separately processed through fermentation 616, 618 and distillation 624, 626 (after treatment 628, 630, if any) to produce ethanol.
- a suitable fermenting organism ethanologen
- the selection of an ethanologen may be based on various considerations, such as the predominant types of sugars present in the slurry. Dehydration and/or denaturing of the ethanol produced from the C5 stream and the C6 stream may be performed either separately or in combination.
- a treatment system 700, 702, 800 for the fermentation product is shown according to exemplary embodiments.
- the fermentation product is produced in the fermentation system by use of the ethanologen (e.g. yeast cells) to convert by fermentation into ethanol the sugars (e.g. C5 sugars and/or C6 sugars) made available from the biomass (e.g. from treated biomass).
- the fermentation system may operate in a batch (e.g. fed batch), continuous flow, or other arrangement.
- the fermentation product (which may also be referred to as or as comprising beer or fermentation broth) will comprise ethanol and water, as well as unfermented matter (e.g. any unfermented sugars) and non-fermentable matter (e.g.
- the fermentation product will also comprise in the form of particulate matter (e.g. contained solids) the ethanologen (e.g. yeast cells) that was used to produce ethanol; the fermentation product may also comprise other components produced by the fermentation system, for example, such as glycerol (a product of fermentation).
- the ethanologen e.g. yeast cells
- the fermentation product may also comprise other components produced by the fermentation system, for example, such as glycerol (a product of fermentation).
- Enzyme hydrolysis using a cellulase enzyme formulation will generally not break down the lignin in the solids component.
- Lignin will comprise a substantial constituent of the residual solids in the treated solids component (e.g. hydrolysate) after enzyme hydrolysis of the cellulose. Lignin is unfermentable with the conventional ethanologen formulation used to ferment glucose into ethanol.
- the fermentation product which comprises lignin and other residual solids
- the residual solids may adhere to surfaces of the distillation column and other equipment, causing interruptions in the operation of the system by fouling and plugging of equipment.
- the distillation system may only be able to operate for up to five hours without interruption caused by fouling.
- the fermentation product may be treated by heating 704 or cooking prior to distillation, as shown in FIGURES 7A and 7B. Heating the fermentation product may cause agglomeration of the particulate matter that comprises the residual solids (including lignin). The treated residual solids have a lowered tendency to adhere to surfaces, allowing the distillation system to operate continuously without interruption for more than ten days.
- the fermentation product may be heated to a range of 80 to 94 degrees Celsius.
- the fermentation product may be heated to a range of 82 to 90 degrees Celsius.
- the fermentation product may be heated to a range of 84 to 87 degrees Celsius.
- the treatment system may comprise a vessel, a heat exchanger or a cook tube or other means for achieving the desired temperature.
- the treated fermentation product is distilled to recover the ethanol.
- the treatment system can be used with a process where the C5 stream and the C6 stream are co-fermented 706 (see also FIGURE 6A).
- the treatment system can be used with a process where the C5 stream and the C6 stream are separately fermented 708, 710 (see also FIGURE 6B).
- the heated fermentation product may also be separated in a first separation 802 using a centrifuge to remove at least a part of the treated residual solids.
- the residual solids that have been removed by centrifugation may be washed with water and further separated in a second separation 804 into a solids component, which will comprise substantially solids matter such as lignin and the ethanologen/yeast cells, and a liquid component, which will comprise substantially ethanol and water.
- the liquid component from the second separation 804 may be combined with the liquid component from the first separation and be supplied to a distillation system to recover ethanol by distillation and dehydration.
- the removed residual solids e.g. removed components
- the treated fermentation product is distilled to recover the ethanol.
- the distillation can be continuously operated for at least 24 hours. According to a preferred embodiment, the distillation can be continuously operated for at least 48 hours.
- the fermentation product comprises a solids component that comprises at least 40 percent lignin.
- the average particle size of the solids component of the fermentation product is typically about 8 to 15 micrometers.
- fermentation treatment may increase the average particle size of the solids component by at least 50 percent.
- the treatment may increase the average particle size of the solids component by up to 100 percent.
- a typical distillation column 900 is shown. Any one of various distillation column configurations known in the art could be used. In an exemplary embodiment, the dimensions of the distillation column are approximately 6 inches in diameter and approximately 14.5 feet in length. Multiple distillation trays 1000 (or sieve trays), as shown in FIGURE 10, are stacked on the inside of the column.
- a typical sieve tray comprises multiple small holes 1002 (e.g. sieve holes) that allow steam to move upward and few larger holes 1004 (e.g. down comers) that allow the fermentation product to move downward within the distillation column.
- the larger holes may employ a tube that protrudes about 0.5 to 1 inch above the tray and about 4 to 8 inches below the tray.
- the fermentation product is supplied to the distillation column through an opening near the top of the column.
- Pressurized steam is supplied through and opening at the bottom of the column, heating up the fermentation product and causing the ethanol to evaporate.
- the vaporized ethanol escapes from the distillation column through an opening at the top of the column.
- the remaining stillage leaves the column through an opening at the bottom of the column.
- FIGURES 13A, 13B, and 13C show operating conditions for subject parameters for the treatment of the hydrolysate of the solids component of pre-treated biomass to remove lignin according to an exemplary embodiment of the system; operating conditions are shown in the form of nested ranges comprising an acceptable operating range (the outer/wide range shown), a preferred operating range (the middle range shown), and a particularly preferred operating range (the inner/narrow range shown) for each subject condition or parameter.
- the temperature during the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 80 to 94 degrees Celsius. According to a preferred embodiment, the temperature during the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 82 to 90 degrees Celsius, and according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the temperature during the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 84 to 87 degrees Celsius.
- the pH during the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 4.0 to 7.2. According to a preferred embodiment, the pH during the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 4.4 to 6.8, and according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the pH during the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 4.6 to 5.0
- the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 10 seconds to 240 minutes.
- the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 20 seconds to 10 minutes, and according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the treatment of fermented biomass may be approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
- TABLES 4A and 4B show the average composition of the fermentation product.
- the solids component of the fermentation product may comprise on average about 56 percent lignin (by weight), about 15 percent cellulose, about 4 percent hemicellulose, about 14 percent ash (e.g. inorganic components) and about 11 percent other components.
- the liquid component of the fermentation product comprises on average about 6 percent ethanol, about 0.6 percent glycerol and about 1.6 percent sugars (e.g. C6 and C5 sugars).
- the solids content of the fermentation product may be approximately 8 to 10 percent by weight, depending on the fermentation conditions.
- the pH of the fermentation product during treatment and distillation may be in the range of approximately pH 4.6 to 5.0
- FIGURE 11 shows the distillation system run time that was achieved with untreated fermentation product and treated fermentation product.
- 1/8 inch hole sieve trays were used in the distillation column, the column could not be operated, and a 0 hour run time was achieved.
- baffle trays were used in the distillation column, the column could be operated for about 4 hours.
- 1/2 inch hole sieve trays were used, the column could be operated for about 5 hours.
- improved operability and increased continuous run time of at least 285 hours without fouling and/or plugging of the distillation column were achieved.
- the larger (1/2 inch) sieve holes improved the operability of the distillation column as compared to the 1/8 inch holes, but were not enough to allow for continuous operation alone.
- Fermentation product comprising approximately 9 percent residual solids was prepared by grinding, pre-treating, hydrolysing and fermenting biomass (corn cobs). 200 mL of the fermentation product was heated to 85 degrees Celsius and allowed to cool down to ambient temperature (approximately 21 degrees Celsius). Agglomeration of particles was measured by measuring the particle size before and after treatment using a laser scattering particle size analyzer (available from Horiba, Kyoto, Japan). The particle size distribution of the untreated fermentation product showed peaks at 0.30 micrometers, 11.6 micrometers (the largest peak) and 175 micrometers.
- the particle size distribution of the treated fermentation product showed no peak around the smaller particle size (less than 1 micrometers), and the other peaks were at 22.8 micrometers (the largest peak) and 229 micrometers. It was observed that the average particle size had increased from approximately 12.8 micrometers before treatment to approximately 24.5 micrometers after treatment. The results are shown in FIGURE 12.
- exemplary is used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion, and the disclosed subject matter is not limited by such examples.
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Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
BRPI1013041A BRPI1013041A2 (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2010-05-18 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF FERMENTED LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS |
CN201080027262.7A CN102459617B (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2010-05-18 | For the treatment of biomass to promote the system that ethanol manufactures |
MX2011012376A MX2011012376A (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2010-05-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol. |
EP10778283.1A EP2432889A4 (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2010-05-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol |
CA2762689A CA2762689A1 (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2010-05-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol |
US13/300,244 US20160369304A9 (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2011-11-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol |
ZA2011/08496A ZA201108496B (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2011-11-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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US17934909P | 2009-05-18 | 2009-05-18 | |
US61/179,349 | 2009-05-18 |
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US13/300,244 Continuation US20160369304A9 (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2011-11-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol |
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WO2010135366A1 true WO2010135366A1 (en) | 2010-11-25 |
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PCT/US2010/035316 WO2010135366A1 (en) | 2009-05-18 | 2010-05-18 | System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol |
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EP (1) | EP2432889A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102459617B (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI1013041A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2762689A1 (en) |
CL (1) | CL2011002929A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2011012376A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010135366A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA201108496B (en) |
Cited By (3)
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US9102951B2 (en) | 2011-08-31 | 2015-08-11 | Iogen Energy Corporation | Process for recovering salt during a lignocellulosic conversion process |
WO2017093526A1 (en) * | 2015-12-04 | 2017-06-08 | Biométhodes S.A. | System and method for treatment of biomass for the production of biofuels and biochemicals |
US20210002734A1 (en) * | 2018-05-28 | 2021-01-07 | Cj Cheiljedang Corporation | Physically pretreated biomass composition capable of membrane filtration |
Families Citing this family (2)
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US9617574B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2017-04-11 | Auburn University | Efficient process for producing saccharides and ethanol from a biomass feedstock |
CN108753870A (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2018-11-06 | 天津科技大学 | A kind of biomass treatment method |
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US20070178569A1 (en) * | 2006-01-27 | 2007-08-02 | Susan Leschine | Systems and methods for producing biofuels and related materials |
US7271244B2 (en) * | 2004-02-06 | 2007-09-18 | Novozymes, Inc. | Polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and polynucleotides encoding same |
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WO2009058276A1 (en) * | 2007-11-01 | 2009-05-07 | Mascoma Corporation | Product recovery from fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass |
-
2010
- 2010-05-18 EP EP10778283.1A patent/EP2432889A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-05-18 BR BRPI1013041A patent/BRPI1013041A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2010-05-18 CN CN201080027262.7A patent/CN102459617B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2010-05-18 WO PCT/US2010/035316 patent/WO2010135366A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-05-18 CA CA2762689A patent/CA2762689A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-05-18 MX MX2011012376A patent/MX2011012376A/en active IP Right Grant
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2011
- 2011-11-18 ZA ZA2011/08496A patent/ZA201108496B/en unknown
- 2011-11-18 CL CL2011002929A patent/CL2011002929A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (2)
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US7271244B2 (en) * | 2004-02-06 | 2007-09-18 | Novozymes, Inc. | Polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and polynucleotides encoding same |
US20070178569A1 (en) * | 2006-01-27 | 2007-08-02 | Susan Leschine | Systems and methods for producing biofuels and related materials |
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WACKETT ET AL.: "Microbial-based motor fuels: science and technology", MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, 2008, pages 1 - 15 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9102951B2 (en) | 2011-08-31 | 2015-08-11 | Iogen Energy Corporation | Process for recovering salt during a lignocellulosic conversion process |
WO2017093526A1 (en) * | 2015-12-04 | 2017-06-08 | Biométhodes S.A. | System and method for treatment of biomass for the production of biofuels and biochemicals |
US20210002734A1 (en) * | 2018-05-28 | 2021-01-07 | Cj Cheiljedang Corporation | Physically pretreated biomass composition capable of membrane filtration |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN102459617B (en) | 2016-01-27 |
CN102459617A (en) | 2012-05-16 |
MX2011012376A (en) | 2012-01-30 |
EP2432889A4 (en) | 2013-09-11 |
CL2011002929A1 (en) | 2012-08-24 |
EP2432889A1 (en) | 2012-03-28 |
CA2762689A1 (en) | 2010-11-25 |
ZA201108496B (en) | 2013-01-30 |
BRPI1013041A2 (en) | 2015-09-15 |
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