Membrane-based process for the recovery of lactic acid and glyce

Details Membrane-based process for the recovery of lactic acid and glyce Membrane-based process for the recovery of lactic acid and glyce

1992-07-13

1993-10-05

Spear, Frank

Liquid purification or separation

Processes

Liquid/liquid solvent or colloidal extraction or diffusing...

210651, 210259, B01D 6158

Patent

active

052501825

ABSTRACT:
"Thin stillage", discharged from a centrifuge in which relatively large >10 .mu.m insoluble solids in an ethanol stillbottoms stream are separated from "whole stillage", is separated in a step-wise membrane separation process to recover lactic acid and glycerol, together. In each step, the permeate recovery is at least 50%. In a first step, an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane means produces a UF permeate stream in which not only essentially all the insoluble portion of said thin stillage >0.0.05 .mu.m is removed as UF concentrate, but also at least 50% of solubles having a molecular weight >2.times.10.sup.5 Daltons, including dissolved proteins in said thin stillage. In a second step to which the UF permeate is fed, a nanofiltration (NF) membrane produces a NF permeate with a rejection of less than 30% of both the lactic acid and the glycerol, preferably less than 25%. Essentially all molecules larger than lactic acid or glycerol are removed in the NF concentrate. In a third step, to which the NF permeate is fed, a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane means produces demineralized RO water which contains essentially no lactic acid and glycerol, because these are rejected in the RO concentrate. Use of the membrane separation process in the production of ethanol based on the dry-milling of corn, eliminates the use of a conventional evaporator.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4624805 (1986-11-01), Lawhon
"Ultrafiltration & Reverse Osmosis Technology & Alcohol Applications" by Craig Brandon, Bill McFadden and Rodney L. Simms presented at 1991 Fuel Alcohol Workshop.
"Nanofiltration Extends the Range of Membrane Filtration" by Peter Eriksson Environmental Progress vol. 7, No. 1 pp. 58-62 Feb. 1988.
"Reverse Osmosis of Lactic Acid Fermentation Broths" by Laura R. Schlicher & Munir Cheryan, J. Chem. Tech. Biotechnol 02 vol. 49, pp. 129-140 1990.
"Cross-Flow Ceramic Membrane Microfiltration for the Clarification of Ethanol Stillbottoms" by Brian D. Burris presented to Intnl. Conf. on (Fuel) Alcohols etc.
"Membrance Process Designs in the Recovery of Bio-Fuels and Bio-Chemicals" by S. A. Leeper Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID. 83415.

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