Improved fermentative alcohol production. [Patent application]

Patent · Tue Nov 25 23:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5962255

Wilke, C R; Maiorella, B L; Blanch, H W; Cysewski, G R

An improved fermentation process is described for producing alcohol which includes the combination of vacuum fermentation and vacuum distillation. Preferably, the vacuum distillation is carried out in two phases, one a fermentor proper operated at atmospheric pressure and a flash phase operated at reduced pressure with recycle of fermentation brew having a reduced alcohol content to the fermentor, using vapor recompression heating of the flash-pot recycle stream to heat the flash-pot or the distillation step, and using water load balancing (i.e., the molar ratio of water in the fermentor feed is the same as the molar ratio of water in the distillation overhead).

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: TIC; EDB-82-019219; ERA-07-010407
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 5962255
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DESIGN
DISTILLATION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
VACUUM FERMENTATION