초록 ▼

A continuous process and apparatus for preparing organic acids and their salts from biomass. Biomass flows from a region of fresh biomass and high acid and acid salt concentration to a region of digested biomass and low acid and acid salt concentration in a fermentation apparatus under anaerobic con

A continuous process and apparatus for preparing organic acids and their salts from biomass. Biomass flows from a region of fresh biomass and high acid and acid salt concentration to a region of digested biomass and low acid and acid salt concentration in a fermentation apparatus under anaerobic conditions. Organic acids and acid salts produced by the process of the present invention are volatile fatty acids such as acetic, butyric and propionic acids and their salts such as calcium acetate, calcium propionate, and calcium butyrate. The apparatus of the present invention contains at least two fermentation reactors in series to increase the biomass residence time in the reactors. The fermentation reactors of the present invention are imbedded in the ground with earthen berms as support for sides having three layers. The core of the reactors are covered with a flexible covering to maintain an anaerobic environment.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of producing organic acids and salts of organic acids from biomass comprising: digesting biomass in an anaerobic environment to produce the organic acids and the salts of the organic acids, continuously flowing biomass in said anaerobic environment from a region

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of producing organic acids and salts of organic acids from biomass comprising: digesting biomass in an anaerobic environment to produce the organic acids and the salts of the organic acids, continuously flowing biomass in said anaerobic environment from a region of fresh biomass to a separate region of digested biomass, controlling the concentration of the organic acids and the salts of the organic acids in said regions to maintain digestion of said biomass whereby said separate region of digested biomass is provided a lower concentration of the organic acids and salts of the organic acids than said region of fresh biomass, the concentration of the organic acids and the organic acid salts in said region of fresh biomass is controlled by flowing an aqueous stream into the region of digested biomass to wash the organic acids and the salts of organic acids from the biomass and directing the aqueous stream containing the organic acids and the organic acid salts from the region of digested biomass to the region of fresh biomass, and recovering the organic acids and salts of organic acids.