A low energy continuous reactor separator for the production of ethanol from corn grits/starch and biomass streams. 2nd Quarterly report, August 1--October 15, 1994
This project is an attempt to develop and demonstrate an improved reactor for the production of ethanol from starch and ligno-cellulosic streams. Bio-Process Innovations holds a patent on this reactor technology, and is directing the project. A Continuous Stirred Reactor Separator (CSRS) is being built on a pilot plant scale for testing at a small Iowa ethanol plant (Permeate Refining) while bench scale tests on the reactor system are being performed at Purdue University. The CSRS unit combines several operations within the confines of the reactor vessel: (1) complex carbohydrates are reduced to simple sugars by enzymatic breakdown; (2) sugars are converted to ethanol by yeast or bacteria; and (3) the ethanol is separated by a stripping gas stream. The ethanol is removed from the stripping gas in an absorber, and then taken to an extractive distillation column. This unit should allow concentrated feeds to be converted to ethanol, and the use of bottoms recycle will be extensively tested to establish the limits of minimizing net bottoms water production leaving the plant. During the first quarter, a flocculant yeast was selected, a xylose fermenting yeast strain selected, and some experiments on no-cook starch conversion to ethanol completed. During the last (second) quarter, the authors have tested the effect of bottoms water recirculation on the reactor performance, the performance of the lab scale unit on molasses, and done some work on biomass conversion to ethanol.
- Research Organization:
- Bio-Process Innovation, Inc., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG01-94CE15594
- OSTI ID:
- 10192220
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CE/15594-T2; ON: DE95002256; BR: EF7202000; TRN: AHC29428%%28
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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A low energy continuous reactor separator for the production of ethanol from corn grits/starch and biomass streams. 3rd Quarterly report, October 15, 1994--January 15, 1995
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