Performance of a 24,000 liter, multi stage Continuous Stirred Reactor Separator (CSRS) for ethanol from sugars, and application of the CSRS towards cellulosics
- Bio-Process Innovation Inc., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
- Permeate Refining Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (United States)
A pilot scale 24,000 liter, 4 stage reactor has been built, installed, and is undergoing performance trials. This Continuous Stirred Reactor Separator (CSRS) allows the continuous production and separation of ethanol from the fermentation broth using stirred reactor stages crossed with gas stripping of the overflow broth. The gas stripping of ethanol speeds fermentation rates by reducing the ethanol concentration on the lower stages. This CSRS is designed to have ethanol recovered from the exiting vapors using a solvent absorption column, after which the ethanol will be recovered from the solvent. The CSRS was installed in March of 1995, and has been operated as a continuous cascade type fermenter (without separation). The reactor has been running continuously since September of 1995 with feed rates varying between 0 (when feed tanks are exhausted) to 20 LPM. Yeast densities of a flocculent yeast have been measured at up to 50% cell settling volume. Preliminary work on biomass conversion to ethanol using the CSRS is being performed. Pretreatment studies, xylose fermentations, and SSF of cellulose have been started. It is planned to operate a two section CSRS for the successive conversion of hemicellulose/xylans followed by cellulose/glucans to ethanol.
- OSTI ID:
- 478655
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960958--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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