Sterilization of fermentation vessels by ethanol/water mixtures
Abstract
A method for sterilizing process fermentation vessels with a concentrated alcohol and water mixture integrated in a fuel alcohol or other alcohol production facility. Hot, concentrated alcohol is drawn from a distillation or other purification stage and sprayed into the empty fermentation vessels. This sterilizing alcohol/water mixture should be of a sufficient concentration, preferably higher than 12% alcohol by volume, to be toxic to undesirable microorganisms. Following sterilization, this sterilizing alcohol/water mixture can be recovered back into the same distillation or other purification stage from which it was withdrawn. The process of this invention has its best application in, but is not limited to, batch fermentation processes, wherein the fermentation vessels must be emptied, cleaned, and sterilized following completion of each batch fermentation process.
- Inventors:
-
- Lakewood, CO
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- GRAVELL ROBERT B
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872137
- Patent Number(s):
- 5868997
- Application Number:
- 07/672,286
- Assignee:
- Midwest Research Institute (Kansas City, MS)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61L - METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL
- DOE Contract Number:
- AB01-89GC20195
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- sterilization; fermentation; vessels; ethanol; water; mixtures; method; sterilizing; process; concentrated; alcohol; mixture; integrated; fuel; production; facility; hot; drawn; distillation; purification; stage; sprayed; empty; sufficient; concentration; preferably; 12; volume; toxic; undesirable; microorganisms; following; recovered; withdrawn; application; limited; batch; processes; emptied; cleaned; sterilized; completion; fermentation process; water mixture; sufficient concentration; batch fermentation; fermentation vessels; fermentation processes; concentrated alcohol; water mixtures; production facility; alcohol production; /422/426/
Citation Formats
Wyman, Charles E. Sterilization of fermentation vessels by ethanol/water mixtures. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Wyman, Charles E. Sterilization of fermentation vessels by ethanol/water mixtures. United States.
Wyman, Charles E. Tue .
"Sterilization of fermentation vessels by ethanol/water mixtures". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872137.
@article{osti_872137,
title = {Sterilization of fermentation vessels by ethanol/water mixtures},
author = {Wyman, Charles E},
abstractNote = {A method for sterilizing process fermentation vessels with a concentrated alcohol and water mixture integrated in a fuel alcohol or other alcohol production facility. Hot, concentrated alcohol is drawn from a distillation or other purification stage and sprayed into the empty fermentation vessels. This sterilizing alcohol/water mixture should be of a sufficient concentration, preferably higher than 12% alcohol by volume, to be toxic to undesirable microorganisms. Following sterilization, this sterilizing alcohol/water mixture can be recovered back into the same distillation or other purification stage from which it was withdrawn. The process of this invention has its best application in, but is not limited to, batch fermentation processes, wherein the fermentation vessels must be emptied, cleaned, and sterilized following completion of each batch fermentation process.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {2}
}