Methods and apparatus for recycling tail gas in syngas fermentation to ethanol
US11857923B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/59
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention present provides a method (and suitable apparatus) to convert biomass to ethanol, comprising gasifying the biomass to produce raw syngas; feeding the raw syngas to an acid-gas removal unit to remove at least some CO2 and produce a conditioned syngas stream; feeding the conditioned syngas stream to a fermentor to biologically convert the syngas to ethanol; capturing a tail gas from an exit of the fermentor, wherein the tail gas comprises at least CO2 and unconverted CO or H2; and recycling a first portion of the tail gas to the fermentor and/or a second portion of the tail gas to the acid-gas removal unit. This invention allows for increased syngas conversion to ethanol, improved process efficiency, and better overall biorefinery economics for conversion of biomass to ethanol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.