Abstract

Fermented grain (11), such as brewer's grain or wet cake, which contains both hemicellulose and cellulose, is processed to provide sugars. The grain is first treated (14) with hot water to hydrolyse hemicellulose; and an aqueous phase (26) containing the products of the hydrolysis of hemicellulose is separated from particulate material. The particulate material is then fed (18) into a flow of steam at above 450° C. along a reactor duct (20, 32) to form a flowing mixture of particles and vapours, the mass flow of steam being at least 3 times the mass flow of particulate matter, such that the particulate material is heated rapidly; and after no more than 3 seconds at least 75% (by mass) of the particles are separated (21) from the flowing mixture. The vapours of the flowing mixture are then condensed (22). The result is a sugar solution (25). Steady feeding of the particulate material may be achieved with an eductor (32) that includes a nozzle (36) for entry of the steam, and a sloping deflector plate (40) above it.

IPC Classes  ?

• C13K 1/02 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials

Abstract

A plant and process for performing thermolysis of cellulose uses a thermolysis reactor which comprises a reactor duct having a longitudinal axis, and an eductor at one end of the reactor duct. The eductor has an entry chamber and a venturi-shaped exit channel, a nozzle, a sloping deflector plate above the nozzle, and an inlet port through which particulate material may be fed onto the deflector plate and into the entry chamber. The nozzle and the venturi-shaped exit channel are aligned with the longitudinal axis. A superheater provides superheated steam at a temperature above 450° C. to flow through the nozzle. The particulate matter is entrained in the flowing steam, and undergoes thermolysis. This may be combined with a pre-treatment to hydrolyse hemicellulose, so that lignocellulosic biomass can be processed.

IPC Classes  ?

• D21D 5/24 - Purification of the pulp suspension by mechanical meansApparatus therefor with the aid of centrifugal force in cyclones
• D21C 9/18 - De-watering

Abstract

Fermented grain (11), such as brewer's grain or wet cake, which contains both hemicellulose and cellulose, is processed to provide sugars. The grain is first treated (14) with hot water to hydrolyse hemicellulose; and an aqueous phase (26) containing the products of the hydrolysis of hemicellulose is separated from particulate material. The particulate material is then fed (18) into a flow of steam at above 450°C along a reactor duct (20, 32) to form a flowing mixture of particles and vapours, the mass flow of steam being at least 3 times the mass flow of particulate matter, such that the particulate material is heated rapidly; and after no more than 3 seconds at least 75% (by mass) of the particles are separated (21) from the flowing mixture. The vapours of the flowing mixture are then condensed (22). The result is a sugar solution (25). Steady feeding of the particulate material may be achieved with an eductor (32) that includes a nozzle (36) for entry of the steam, and a sloping deflector plate (40) above it.

IPC Classes  ?

• C08H 8/00 - Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials
• C12P 7/08 - Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate
• C12P 7/10 - Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate substrate containing cellulosic material
• C13K 1/02 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials
• C13K 1/04 - Purifying

Abstract

Fermented grain (11), such as brewer's grain or wet cake, which contains both hemicellulose and cellulose, is processed to provide sugars. The grain is first treated (14) with hot water to hydrolyse hemicellulose; and an aqueous phase (26) containing the products of the hydrolysis of hemicellulose is separated from particulate material. The particulate material is then fed (18) into a flow of steam at above 450°C along a reactor duct (20, 32) to form a flowing mixture of particles and vapours, the mass flow of steam being at least 3 times the mass flow of particulate matter, such that the particulate material is heated rapidly; and after no more than 3 seconds at least 75% (by mass) of the particles are separated (21) from the flowing mixture. The vapours of the flowing mixture are then condensed (22). The result is a sugar solution (25). Steady feeding of the particulate material may be achieved with an eductor (32) that includes a nozzle (36) for entry of the steam, and a sloping deflector plate (40) above it.

IPC Classes  ?

• C08H 8/00 - Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials
• C12P 7/08 - Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate
• C12P 7/10 - Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage produced as by-product or from waste or cellulosic material substrate substrate containing cellulosic material
• C13K 1/02 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials
• C13K 1/04 - Purifying

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass (11) is processed to produce organic chemicals by (a) subjecting the biomass to a first hydrolysis (14) to hydrolyse hemicellulose, to form a liquid component comprising the products of hemicellulose hydrolysis in solution, and a solid component comprising cellulose and lignin; (b) then subjecting the solid component to a second hydrolysis (20), so as to hydrolyse cellulose and vaporise the resulting products of cellulose hydrolysis; and (c) then condensing (22) the resulting vapours to form an aqueous solution (25) containing the products of cellulose hydrolysis. After the first hydrolysis (14) and before the second hydrolysis (20), the process also comprises subjecting the solid component to a washing step (16). In this washing step (16) the solid component is washed with the aqueous solution (25) that contains the products of cellulose hydrolysis. Hence the resultant solution contains the products of both the first and the second hydrolysis steps (14, 20).

IPC Classes  ?

• C13K 1/02 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials
• C13K 13/00 - Sugars not otherwise provided for in this class

Abstract

A plant and process for performing thermolysis of cellulose uses a thermolysis reactor (20) which comprises a reactor duct (30) having a longitudinal axis (31), and an eductor (32) at one end of the reactor duct (30). The eductor (32) has an entry chamber (33) and a venturi-shaped exit channel (38), a nozzle (36), a sloping deflector plate (40) above the nozzle (36), and an inlet port (34) through which particulate material may be fed onto the deflector plate (40) and into the entry chamber (33). The nozzle (36) and the venturi-shaped exit channel (38) are aligned with the longitudinal axis (31). A superheater (47) provides superheated steam at a temperature above 450°C to flow through the nozzle (36). The particulate matter is entrained in the flowing steam, and undergoes thermolysis. This may be combined with a pre-treatment to hydrolyse hemicellulose, so that lignocellulosic biomass can be processed.

IPC Classes  ?

• D21B 1/22 - Disintegrating in mills in magazine-type machines with screw feed
• D21C 1/02 - Pretreatment of the finely-divided materials before digesting with water or steam
• D21C 7/00 - Digesters

Abstract

A plant and process for performing thermolysis of cellulose uses a thermolysis reactor (20) which comprises a reactor duct (30) having a longitudinal axis (31), and an eductor (32) at one end of the reactor duct (30). The eductor (32) has an entry chamber (33) and a venturi-shaped exit channel (38), a nozzle (36), a sloping deflector plate (40) above the nozzle (36), and an inlet port (34) through which particulate material may be fed onto the deflector plate (40) and into the entry chamber (33). The nozzle (36) and the venturi-shaped exit channel (38) are aligned with the longitudinal axis (31). A superheater (47) provides superheated steam at a temperature above 450°C to flow through the nozzle (36). The particulate matter is entrained in the flowing steam, and undergoes thermolysis. This may be combined with a pre-treatment to hydrolyse hemicellulose, so that lignocellulosic biomass can be processed.

IPC Classes  ?

• D21C 1/02 - Pretreatment of the finely-divided materials before digesting with water or steam
• D21B 1/22 - Disintegrating in mills in magazine-type machines with screw feed
• D21C 7/00 - Digesters

Abstract

A process (10) for obtaining a fermentation product from lignocellulosic biomass comprises: subjecting the biomass to at least one steam hydrolysis step (14, 20) to obtain a solution (25; 36) that contains sugars; and subjecting the sugar-containing solution to fermentation (40) to produce the fermentation product (44), wherein the fermentation step also involves the addition of a foam suppression agent (42). The steam hydrolysis step (14, 20) forms a sugar solution which contains compounds that prevent fermentation, but the foam suppression agent (42) makes it possible for fermentation to occur. The foam suppression agent (42) may be a mixture of polypropylene-based polyether dispersions.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12P 7/00 - Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
• C12P 7/06 - Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• C12P 7/56 - Lactic acid

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass (11) is processed to produce organic chemicals by (a) subjecting the biomass to a first hydrolysis (14) to hydrolyse hemicellulose, to form a liquid component comprising the products of hemicellulose hydrolysis in solution, and a solid component comprising cellulose and lignin; (b) then subjecting the solid component to a second hydrolysis (20), so as to hydrolyse cellulose and vaporise the resulting products of cellulose hydrolysis; and (c) then condensing (22) the resulting vapours to form an aqueous solution (25) containing the products of cellulose hydrolysis. After the first hydrolysis (14) and before the second hydrolysis (20), the process also comprises subjecting the solid component to a washing step (16). In this washing step (16) the solid component is washed with the aqueous solution (25) that contains the products of cellulose hydrolysis. Hence the resultant solution contains the products of both the first and the second hydrolysis steps (14, 20).

IPC Classes  ?

• C07H 1/00 - Processes for the preparation of sugar derivatives
• C08H 7/00 - LigninModified ligninHigh-molecular-weight products derived therefrom
• C13K 1/02 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials
• C13K 13/00 - Sugars not otherwise provided for in this class
• B01D 5/00 - Condensation of vapoursRecovering volatile solvents by condensation
• B01J 6/00 - CalciningFusing

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass (11) is processed to produce organic chemicals by (a) subjecting the biomass to a first hydrolysis (14) to hydrolyse hemicellulose, to form a liquid component comprising the products of hemicellulose hydrolysis in solution, and a solid component comprising cellulose and lignin; (b) then subjecting the solid component to a second hydrolysis (20), so as to hydrolyse cellulose and vaporise the resulting products of cellulose hydrolysis; and (c) then condensing (22) the resulting vapours to form an aqueous solution (25) containing the products of cellulose hydrolysis. After the first hydrolysis (14) and before the second hydrolysis (20), the process also comprises subjecting the solid component to a washing step (16). In this washing step (16) the solid component is washed with the aqueous solution (25) that contains the products of cellulose hydrolysis. Hence the resultant solution contains the products of both the first and the second hydrolysis steps (14, 20).

IPC Classes  ?

• B01D 5/00 - Condensation of vapoursRecovering volatile solvents by condensation
• B01J 6/00 - CalciningFusing
• C07H 1/00 - Processes for the preparation of sugar derivatives
• C08H 7/00 - LigninModified ligninHigh-molecular-weight products derived therefrom
• C13K 1/02 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials
• C13K 13/00 - Sugars not otherwise provided for in this class