Title: Tower reactors for bioconversion of lignocellulosic material

Abstract

An apparatus for enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of pretreated lignocellulosic material, in the form of a tower bioreactor, having mixers to achieve intermittent mixing of the material. Precise mixing of the material is important for effective heat and mass transfer requirements without damaging or denaturing the enzymes or fermenting microorganisms. The pretreated material, generally in the form of a slurry, is pumped through the bioreactor, either upwards or downwards, and is mixed periodically as it passes through the mixing zones where the mixers are located. For a thin slurry, alternate mixing can be achieved by a pumping loop which also serves as a heat transfer device. Additional heat transfer takes place through the reactor heat transfer jackets.

Inventors:

Nguyen, Quang A ^[1]

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1. 16458 W. 1st Ave., Golden, CO 80401

Issue Date:

Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

Research Org.:

Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)

OSTI Identifier:

872228

Patent Number(s):

5888806

Assignee:

Nguyen, Quang A. (16458 W. 1st Ave., Golden, CO 80401)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {

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C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M21/12 - {for producing fuels or solvents
C12M21/16 - {Solid state fermenters, e.g. for koji production}
C12M21/18 - {Apparatus specially designed for the use of free, immobilized or carrier-bound enzymes}
C12M27/02 - {Stirrer or mobile mixing elements}
C12M41/22 - {in contact with the bioreactor walls}
C12M45/09 - {by enzymatic treatment}
C12M47/06 - {Hydrolysis

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {

C12P7/10 - substrate containing cellulosic material

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES 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

Y02E50/10 - Biofuels

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC36-83CH10093

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

tower; reactors; bioconversion; lignocellulosic; material; apparatus; enzymatic; hydrolysis; fermentation; pretreated; form; bioreactor; mixers; achieve; intermittent; mixing; precise; effective; heat; mass; transfer; requirements; damaging; denaturing; enzymes; fermenting; microorganisms; slurry; pumped; upwards; downwards; mixed; periodically; passes; zones; located; alternate; achieved; pumping; loop; serves; device; additional; takes; reactor; jackets; cellulosic material; additional heat; heat transfer; mass transfer; reactor heat; lignocellulosic material; enzymatic hydrolysis; transfer device; transfer jacket; transfer takes; transfer requirements; mixing zone; effective heat; tower bioreactor; tower reactors; intermittent mixing; pretreated lignocellulosic; achieve intermittent; /435/