Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Apparatus – Involving lysis of a microorganism by means other than...
Patent
1986-12-04
1988-04-19
Scott, Samuel
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Apparatus
Involving lysis of a microorganism by means other than...
435162, 435304, 426494, 202173, C12C 100
Patent
active
047389303
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to apparatus for continuously recovering ethanol from fermentable sugar solutions, the apparatus comprising means for mixing sugar solution with yeast and for separating yeast charged with sugar solution and further comprising a fermentation container adapted for being subjected to sub-atmospheric pressure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From No. EP-A-44 428 it is known to produce by comminuting, thermal digestion and saccharification of starch-containing raw materials a mash for producing alcohol from starch or starch-containing raw materials. There is known a number of sugar containing raw materials from which can directly be obtained sugar solutions by extraction, and it is known to degrade such sugar solutions down to glucose and to subject a mash obtained in this manner to fermentation. The fermentation process requires different conditions, depending on the composition of the raw materials and of the mash, and it requires a relatively long reaction time for completion. It is a drawback of known fermentation processes that the mashes and fermentable substrates contain the fermentable sugar as well as the fermentation products in concentrations changing during the fermentation, which adversely influence the reaction speed or fermentation speed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims at providing an apparatus which achieves in a simple manner the application of sub-atmospheric pressure and the separation of the alcohol by distillation without excessive foam formation. The apparatus includes a fermentation assembly which is formed of a plurality of horizontal tubular vessels adapted for being connectable to each other via pressure locks, in particular via valves or pumps, the individual tubular vessels comprising internal plates which are rotatable around the horizontal axis of the vessel and which are at least partially immersed in the fermentation substrate. The plates are inclined with respect to the horizontal axis at an angle of greater or smaller than 90.degree.. The tubular vessels comprise separate gas discharge conduits. On account of the fermentation container being subdivided into a plurality of individual tubular vessels, a different atmosphere and, above all, a different pressure can be maintained within the various vessels. On account of the preferred procedure, according to which the fermentation is performed under sub-atmospheric pressure, an increased foam formation must be expected. Such foam formed during the fermentation can, in a simple manner, be destroyed or be prevented from being formed if the individual vessels comprise plates which are rotatable around the container axes and entail upward and downward movement and reciprocating movement of the liquid phase. For this purpose, the plates are oriented relative to the axis of rotation such that they include with said axis an angle of more or less than 90.degree., whereby a pulsating hydrostatic pressure is generated which provokes degassing without foam formation. On account of the individual vessels being connected one with the other via pressure locks, a different pressure can be maintained in the different vessels, and in a preferred mode of operation the pressure is reduced stepwise during the process.
An analogous horizontal tubular vessel comprising internal rotatably supported plates can be arranged upstream of the fermentation vessels as a mixing and separating means. The plates are rotatable around the axis of the respective vessel in common with the vessel or separately therefrom, and they engage the inner circumference of the vessel in a substantially tight manner. Also, the plates are alternately oppositely inclined relative to said axis and have one flow passage located close to the inner circumference of the vessel and at least one flow passage located close to the axis. The two flow passages in adjacent plates are, as viewed in axial direction, staggered 180.degree. in the sense of rotation. The vessel has at one end a supply opening for yeast and optionally for sugar s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3816266 (1974-06-01), Izumi et al.
patent: 4009075 (1977-02-01), Hoge
patent: 4347321 (1982-08-01), Lionelle et al.
patent: 4359533 (1982-11-01), Wilke et al.
Cvitas Vilim
Faltejsek Karl
Hanke Reinhart
Klinar Gottfried
Kamen Noah
Scott Samuel
Voest-Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
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