ECONOMIC SUGAR STREAM, PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS OF PRODUCING SAME
Methods and system for producing a slip stream of sugar, for example for use in the production of one or more chemicals, in ethanol fermentation facilities. In some embodiments, the methods and systems have little to no impact on the level of production of ethanol, despite also producing a slip stream of sugar. The methods and systems can be implemented in dry mill ethanol, wet mill ethanol, and lignocellulosic ethanol fermentation facilities and processes.
1 . A process for an ethanol fermentation facility, the process comprising:
(i) providing a grain feedstock;
(ii) saccharifying the grain feedstock to produce a sugar composition comprising at least one monosaccharide sugar;
(iii) providing at least a first portion of the that least one monosaccharide sugar from the sugar composition to a first use; and
(iv) providing at least a second portion of the that least one monosaccharide sugar from the sugar composition to a second use that is different from the first use, wherein the second use comprises fermenting the second portion to produce a beer comprising one or more biochemicals.
2 . The process according to claim 1 , further comprising separating solids from the first portion.
3 . The process according to claim 2 , further comprising introducing separated solids to the second use.
4 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing separated solids to the second use before fermenting the second portion.
5 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing separated solids to the fermenting step of the second use.
6 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing separated solids to the second use after fermenting the second portion.
7 . The process according to claim 1 , further comprising separating solids from the sugar composition.
8 . The process according to claim 7 , further comprising introducing separated solids to the second use.
9 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing separated solids to the second use before fermenting the second portion.
10 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing separated solids to the fermenting step of the second use.
11 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing separated solids to the second use after fermenting the second portion.
12 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein the separated solids comprise fiber.
13 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the separated solids comprise corn fiber and wherein introducing separated solids to the second use comprises introducing corn fiber to dried distiller's grain.
14 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the grain is whole cereal.
15 . The process according to claim 14 , wherein the whole cereal is corn.
16 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the sugar composition comprises enzymes and further comprising removing enzymes and recycling removed enzymes to the second use.
17 . The process according to claim 16 , wherein removing enzymes comprises removing enzymes from the first portion.
18 . The process according to claim 17 , wherein removing enzymes comprises filtering the first portion to remove enzymes.
19 . The process according to claim 16 , wherein removing enzymes comprises removing enzymes from the sugar composition.
20 . The process according to claim 19 , wherein removing enzymes comprises filtering the sugar composition to provide the first portion.