Non-sterile fermentation of bioethanol
US8496980B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E50/10
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A range of concentrations exists in which fermentation inhibitors derived from pretreatment of lignocellulosic feed stocks inhibit growth of lactic acid bacteria without affecting fermentive yeast. By optimizing levels of fermentation inhibitors to fall within this range, yeast fermentations of lignocellulosic biomass can be conducted under non-sterile conditions with ethanol yields comparable to those achieved under sterile conditions. Optimised inhibitor levels can be achieved by controlling the water/biomass ratio of a lignocellulosic biomass during and after pretreatment, for example by washing the fiber fraction of a previously pretreated lignocellulosic biomass with a pre-defined amount of fresh water or recycled process solutions. Crude extracts of liquid fraction or process solutions from pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass can also provide an effective anti-bacterial treatment for first generation starch fermentations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.