Ensiling biomass for biofuels production and multiple phase apparatus for hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass
View Patent ↗A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.
1. A method for producing a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate, the method comprising:
treating a biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and/or lignocellulose with an acid in an acid treatment vessel to hydrolyze the cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose of the biomass composition, pressing the biomass in the acid treatment vessel, removing water from the acid treated biomass composition;
heat treating the dewatered, acid treated biomass composition with hot water in a heat treatment vessel;
pressing the heat treated biomass using a separator operatively coupled to the heat treatment vessel to separate a liquid precursor hydrozate from a solid precursor hydrozate; and
performing the preceding steps with a process control system.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising concentrating the liquid precursor hydrozate with a water extraction device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the water extraction device is a reverse osmosis system.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the water extraction device is an applied heat system.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the water extraction device is an ultra filtration system.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the water extraction device is a nano filtration system.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted in a portable apparatus.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separator is a mechanical press.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separator is a centrifuge press.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separator is a gravity press.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the liquid precursor hydrozate with one or more enzymes in an enzymatic treatment device.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the solid precursor hydrozate with one or more enzymes in an enzymatic treatment device.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and/or lignocellulose further comprises hard grains, starches, or a combination thereof.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose is corn stover, cereal straws, sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, paper pulp, waste materials, switchgrass, animal feed, paper, cardboard, or a combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is muriatic acid.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass composition comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and/or lignocellulose is an ensiled biomass.