초록 ▼

An improved continuous process for producing ethanol from cellulosic materials employs an intermittently agitated, perpetually fed, solids retaining reactor vessel. Cellulosic substrate, catalysts and fermentation agents are introduced into a reaction vessel to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated

An improved continuous process for producing ethanol from cellulosic materials employs an intermittently agitated, perpetually fed, solids retaining reactor vessel. Cellulosic substrate, catalysts and fermentation agents are introduced into a reaction vessel to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated for a first selected time interval under conditions sufficient to initiate and maintain a fermentation reaction and then allowed to settle during a second selected time interval. At the end of the second selected time interval an ethanol-containing effluent is removed from the vessel. Thereafter, additional cellulosic material, catalysts and fermentation agents are added to the reactor vessel. This operating cycle is repeated virtually perpetually to effect the ethanol production. It can be implemented using a single bioreactor or a cascade of bioreactors.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for producing ethanol from a cellulosic substrate, comprising the steps ofa) providing within a reaction vessel, a reaction mixture in the form of a slurry comprising cellulosic substrate, catalysts and fermentation agents;b) agitating the reaction mixture for a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for producing ethanol from a cellulosic substrate, comprising the steps ofa) providing within a reaction vessel, a reaction mixture in the form of a slurry comprising cellulosic substrate, catalysts and fermentation agents;b) agitating the reaction mixture for a first selected time interval, wherein the reaction mixture is reacted under conditions sufficient to initiate and maintain a fermentation reaction;c) ceasing agitation of the reaction mixture for a sufficient period of time to permit insoluble substrate of the reaction mixture to settle during a second selected time interval, thereby forming an ethanol containing effluent layer substantially free of suspended solids and a residual solids layer;d) removing from the reaction vessel the ethanol-containing effluent upon expiration of the second selected time interval, and before any further agitation;e) adding a second reaction mixture, comprising the components of the reaction mixture of step a), to the reaction vessel which contains the residual solids; andf) repeating steps (b) through (e) to maintain a continuous fermentation reaction.