초록 ▼

An ethanol unit and anaerobic digestion/bio-fertilizer unit are integrated with a cattle feedlot (or dairy operation), wherein a continuous, balanced process yields a sanitary, low-to zero-pollution, and economically efficient production of "clean beef" (or milk), fuel ethanol, and bio-gas/bio-ferti

An ethanol unit and anaerobic digestion/bio-fertilizer unit are integrated with a cattle feedlot (or dairy operation), wherein a continuous, balanced process yields a sanitary, low-to zero-pollution, and economically efficient production of "clean beef" (or milk), fuel ethanol, and bio-gas/bio-fertilizer. Fossil fuel consumption is substantially reduced, even eliminated, and 100% of the cattle waste is treated in digesters wherein it is converted into medium-BTU gas (bio-gas), organic fertilizer and bio-compost. The ethanol unit serves the purposes of ethanol production, grain pretreatment to produce feed for the cattle and production of a thin stillage which is fed to the digesters. The grain is first processed in the ethanol unit, where the starch portion is converted into ethanol and CO2. The remaining portion is separated into the thin stillage and a wet cake which is fed directly to cattle as a superior ruminant animal ration which displaces certain traditional feed components, alters the standard starch to protein ratio, and significantly improves conversion efficiencies and meat/milk quality.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol and biogas comprising: fermenting grain in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in said medium, a residue, and carbon dioxide; separating the ethanol and residue; separating the residue into wet cake and thin stillage; feed

We claim: 1. An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol and biogas comprising: fermenting grain in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in said medium, a residue, and carbon dioxide; separating the ethanol and residue; separating the residue into wet cake and thin stillage; feeding the wet cake to livestock, said wet grain residue constituting 25-80% of a feed ration of said livestock on a dry weight basis; collecting manure produced by the livestock; admixing, at least a portion of the collected manure and at least a portion of the thin stillage to produce an admixture; and digesting the admixture to produce bio-gas, a liquid effluent and, as a residue, a bio-fertilizer. 2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising: dry milling the grain fed to said fermenting for producing ethanol utilizing the energy produced by combusting said biogas. 3. A process according to claim 1 further comprising milling the grain prior to fermenting. 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein said digesting is either plug flow or mechanical mixed digestion. 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the wet cake from the ethanol production is fed to the livestock without drying. 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein said fermenting produces said wet cake in an amount substantially equal to 25-80% of a total feed requirement of said livestock. 7. A process according to claim 1, wherein: the amount of stillage in admixture with collected manure is regulated, along with the transfer of waste heat from the ethanol unit, to maintain said digesting at a temperature of at least 99�� F. 8. A process according to claim 1, wherein: the amount of stillage in admixture with collected manure is regulated, to prevent build-up of ammonia in a digester in which said digesting is effected. 9. An integrated continuous process for the production of ethanol, a biofertilizer, calcium phosphate, and bio-gas comprising: fermenting grain in an aqueous medium to produce ethanol in said medium, a residue, and carbon dioxide; separating the ethanol and residue; separating the residue into wet cake and thin stillage; feeding the wet cake to livestock, said wet grain residue constituting 25-80% of a feed ration of said livestock on a dry weight basis; collecting manure produced by the livestock; admixing at least a portion of the collected manure and at least a portion of the thin stillage to produce an admixture; digesting the admixture to produce bio-gas, a liquid effluent containing phosphorus, and as a residue, biofertilizer; separating the liquid effluent from the residue; adding a calcium compound and at least a portion of the carbon dioxide to the liquid effluent to precipitate at least a portion of the phosphorous as calcium phosphate and obtain a phosphorous depleted liquid; and separating the calcium phosphate from the phosphorous depleted liquid. 10. A process according to claim 9, wherein said calcium compound is lime.