Method and device for fermentation integrated with separation and purification of alcohols

US11118198B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Dalian University of Technology · CN

Inventors

• Chuang Xue · Dalian, CN
• Chao Zhu · Lo Wu, CN
• Lijie Chen · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 2016
• Grant date: Sep 14, 2021
• Expiry date: Jul 5, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/10
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for fermentation integrated with separation and purification of acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) or butanol alone, comprising the following steps: 1) obtaining ABE by fermentation using an acetone-butanol-producing bacterium or obtaining butanol using a butanol-producing bacterium; 2) using a “vapor-stripping-vapor-permeation” method (briefly VSVP) for online separation and purification of ABE or purifying butanol from the fermentation broth; wherein the VSVP method comprises the following steps: introducing a gas bubble into the fermentation broth comprising active cells for fermentation to vaporize ABE or Butanol; subjecting the gas along with the vaporized ABE or Butanol to a membrane separation unit to pass through the membrane; recovering ABE or Butanol, or subjecting ABE or Butanol to a next separation device. By using the disclosed method, production, separation, and purification efficiency of ABE or butanol are improved with saved energy consumption and without increasing equipment investment.