Patent US20040133240A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4336335A
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US
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Fermentation process
Assignee: Equistar Chemicals LP
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Filing: 1980-05-22
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Granted: 1982-06-22
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Expires: 2000-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons produced by microbial fermentation, e.g., ethanol, butanol, acetone, etc., are conveniently and economically recovered with a minimum expenditure of energy by passing heated by-product carbon dioxide gas through at least a portion of the fermentation medium to simultaneously vaporize and carry off oxygenated hydrocarbon fermentation product dissolved therein and reduce the temperature of the fermentation medium to a level conducive to maximum oxygenated hydrocarbon production. The vaporized oxygenated hydrocarbon fermentation product is separated from the carbon dioxide gas in a scrubbing unit and the resulting aqueous solution of product is concentrated, if desired, by distillation.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner C. Muller
- 👤 Franklyn D. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:06
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/24; C12P7/26; C12P7/28; C12F; C12F3/00; C12F3/02; C12F3/04; C12P7/02; C12P7/04; C12P7/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
In a process for producing a water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon and by-product carbon dioxide gas from the exothermic fermentative action of a microorganism upon a substrate, wherein the improvement comprises scrubbing the by-product carbon dioxide gas with water to recover substantially all of the oxygenated hydrocarbon present therein as a dilute aqueous solution, heating the carbon dioxide gas to a temperature above the temperature of the fermentation medium, and passing the heated gas through at least a portion of fermentation medium to simultaneously vaporize and carry off oxygenated hydrocarbon present in said medium and reduce the temperature of the medium by the effect of evaporative cooling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a process for producing a water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon and by-product carbon dioxide gas from the exothermic fermentative action of a microorganism upon a substrate, wherein the improvement comprises scrubbing the by-product carbon dioxide gas with water to recover substantially all of the oxygenated hydrocarbon present therein as a dilute aqueous solution, heating the carbon dioxide gas to a temperature above the temperature of the fermentation medium, and passing the heated gas through at least a portion of fermentation medium to simultaneously vaporize and carry off oxygenated hydrocarbon present in said medium and reduce the temperature of the medium by the effect of evaporative cooling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the by-product carbon dioxide gas is pressurized prior to passage through the fermentation medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the heated pressurized carbon dioxide gas is introduced into a portion of fermentation medium from which the fermenting mocroorganism has been removed and the cooled portion of fermentation medium is recombined with fermentation medium in which fermentation is actively taking place thereby cooling the latter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon which is produced is ethanol, the microorganism is an ethanol-producing yeast and the substrate is a fermentable sugar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the ethanol is concentrated by distillation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the nitrogen rich spent mash from the distillation is employed in the fermentation as a source of nutrient for the yeast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A process for controlling the temperature of a fermentation medium in which water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons and by-product carbon dioxide gas are produced by exothermic fermentation action of a microorganism upon a substrate, comprising scrubbing said by-product carbon dioxide gas with water to recover substantially all of the oxygenated hydrocarbon present therein as a dilute aqueous solution, heating the carbon dioxide gas to a temperature above the temperature of the fermentation medium, and passing the heated gas through at least a portion of fermentation medium to simultaneously vaporize and carry off oxygenated hydrocarbon present in said medium and reduce the temperature of the medium by the effect of evaporative cooling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A process for controlling the temperature of a fermentation medium in which water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons and by-product carbon dioxide gas are produced by exothermic fermentation action of a microorganism upon a substrate, comprising scrubbing said by-product carbon dioxide gas with water to recover substantially all of the oxygenated hydrocarbon present therein as a dilute aqueous solution, heating the carbon dioxide gas to a temperature above the temperature of the fermentation medium, and passing the heated gas through at least a portion of fermentation medium to simultaneously vaporize and carry off oxygenated hydrocarbon present in said medium and reduce the temperature of the medium by the effect of evaporative cooling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the by-product carbon dioxide is pressurized prior to passage through the fermentation medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the heated pressurized carbon dioxide gas is introduced into a portion of fermentation medium from which the fermenting microorganism has been removed and the cooled portion of fermentation medium is recombined with fermentation medium in which fermentation is actively taking place thereby cooling the latter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon which is produced is ethanol, the microorganism is an ethanol-producing yeast, the substrate is a fermentable sugar, and said controlled temperature range is from about 68° F. to about 100° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said range is from about 86° F. to about 99° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the ethanol is concentrated by distillation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the nitrogen rich spent mash from the distillation is employed in the fermentation as a source of nutrient for the yeast.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-21 | 1985-12-21 | 1986-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-21 | 1989-12-21 | 1990-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-21 | 1993-12-21 | 1994-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |