Processing ethanol fermentation broths and stillage with ceramic membranes
- Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)
The manufacture of ethanol from biomass requires several separation operations, many of which can benefit by the appropriate membrane technology. This paper discusses applications which may perhaps be done best with inorganic membranes. After the fermentation, the microbial (e.g., yeast) are usually separated from the fermentation broth and may be recycled for fermentation. The ethanol is stripped away from the fermentation broth by steam, leaving behind the {open_quotes}stillage{close_quotes}. This stillage is then separated into a high-solids fraction and a {open_quotes}thin{close_quotes} stillage; the latter forming as much as 60-80% of the total liquid throughput in an ethanol plant, could be stream to conserve water. Traditional separation methods used today include sedimentation, centrifugation and cake filtration. The authors have been studying the application of ceramic membranes for the separation (and possible recycling) of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in ethanol fermentation broths, and for the clarification of thin stillage.
- OSTI ID:
- 213097
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940713-; TRN: 96:001036-0014
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. international conference on inorganic membranes, Worcester, MA (United States), 10-14 Jul 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of ICIM{sub 3} 1994: Third international conference on inorganic membranes. Final program; PB: 148 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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