Eliminating the Need of Acidification in Bioethanol Production
An improved ethanol fermentation process with decreased use of acidifiers by adding a composition containing an aldehyde, a fatty acid, a terpene and a surfactant. The method comprising: a) mixing a fermentation feedstock with a fermentation broth containing yeast and/or an enzyme, b) treating said mixture by adding a composition to the fermentor containing: 10-90 wt. % of an antimicrobial aldehyde, preferably selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, para-formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and mixtures thereof, 1-50 wt. % of a surfactant having an HLB from 4 to 18, 0-20 wt. % of an antimicrobial terpene, or essential oils, 1-50 wt. % of organic acids selected from C 1 to C 24 fatty acids, their salts, glycerides and esters thereof, and 1-50 wt. % water; wherein the concentration of aldehyde in the fermentor is from about 0.25 to 3 kg/MT of fermentation feedstock, and c) isolating ethanol and improving yield.
1 . An improved method of ethanol fermentation with decreased use of acidifiers, comprising:
a) mixing a fermentation feedstock with a fermentation broth containing yeast and/or an enzyme,
b) treating said mixture by adding a composition to the fermentor containing:
10-90 wt. % of an antimicrobial aldehyde,
1-50 wt. % of a surfactant having an HLB from 4 to 18,
0-20 wt. % of an antimicrobial terpene, or essential oils,
1-50 wt. % of organic acids selected from C 1 to C 24 fatty acids, their salts, glycerides and esters thereof, and
1-50 wt. % water;
wherein the concentration of aldehyde in the fermentor is from about 0.25 to 3 kg/MT of fermentation feedstock, and
c) isolating ethanol and improving yield.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, para-formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and mixtures thereof.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fermentation feedstock is corn, sorghum, wheat, triticale, rye, barley, rice or tubers.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fermentation feedstock is sugarcane or sugar beet.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate to be fermented is derived from cellulose.
6 . The method of claim 1 , which is free of antimicrobial or sulfuric acid.
7 . A method to produce ethanol co-products with low sulfur content comprising the use of method of claim 1 .
8 . A method to produce a low sulfur dry yeast resulting from sugarcane or sugar beet fermentation comprising the use of method of claim 1 .
9 .
10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fermentation feedstock is corn, sorghum, wheat, triticale, rye, barley, rice or tubers.
11 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fermentation feedstock is sugarcane or sugar beet.
12 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the carbohydrate to be fermented is derived from cellulose.
13 . The method of claim 2 , which is free of antimicrobial or sulfuric acid.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aldehyde is formaldehyde or para-formaldehyde.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fermentation feedstock is corn, sorghum, wheat, triticale, rye, barley, rice or tubers.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the fermentation feedstock is sugarcane or sugar beet.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the carbohydrate to be fermented is derived from cellulose.
18 . The method of claim 11 , which is free of antimicrobial or sulfuric acid.