Other

Ineos Bio Limited

Celanese International Corporation

Bioengineering Resources, Inc.

University of Arkansas

Emmaus Foundation, Inc.

Bioethanol Holdings, Inc.

Edgar C Clausen

James L Gaddy

Ching-Whan Ko

Carl V Wikstrom

Dinesh K Arora

John Randall Phillips

Rahul Basu

Leslie E Wade

Carl V Wilkstrom

A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing in a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity of greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.

Methods for increasing the production of ethanol from microbial fermentation

A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.

A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired co-solvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon, are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production. Such increases in efficiency are also obtained where the energy source for the microbial fermentation contains carbon dioxide and the method includes a carbon dioxide stripping step prior to extraction of acetic acid in solvent.

Microbial process for the preparation of acetic acid, as well as solvent for its extraction from the fermentation broth

A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. This solvent is substantially devoid of mono-alkyl amines and alcohols. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired cosolvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon which forms an azeotrope with water are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production. Such increases in efficiency are also obtained where the energy source for the microbial fermentation contains carbon dioxide and the method includes a carbon dioxide stripping step prior to extraction of acetic acid in solvent.

Microbial process for the preparation of acetic acid as well as solvent for its extraction from the fermentation broth

A single step method of converting lignocellulosic materials to sugars including combining and mixing a low solids content lignocellulosic material with concentrated sulfuric acid, allowing the reaction to proceed and then separating the sulfuric acid and sugar solution from the reaction product. A modified single step method includes dilution of the reaction product with water, followed by continued reaction and subsequent separation of the sulfuric acid and sugar solution.

Concentrated sulfuric acid process for converting lignocellulosic

A newly discovered microorganism was isolated in a biologically pure culture and designated Clostridium ljungdahlii, having the identifying characteristics of ATCC No. 49587. Cultured in an aqueous nutrient medium under anaerobic conditions, this microorganism is capable of producing ethanol and acetate from CO and H.sub.2 O and/or CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 in synthesis gas. Under optimal growth conditions, the microorganism produces acetate in preference to ethanol. Conversely, under non-growth conditions, ethanol production is favored over acetate.

Clostridiumm ljungdahlii, an anaerobic ethanol and acetate producing

A method of recovering concentrated hydrochloric acid from the product obtained from the acid hydrolysis of a cellulose containing material such as biomass. The method involves contacting such product with an extracting solvent, of which a major portion is acetophenone, to separate the product into a hydrochloric acid enriched phase and a hydrochloric acid depleted phase and then separating and recovering the hydrochloric acid from the hydrochloric acid enriched phase.

Method of recovering hydrochloric acid from a product comprised of

A method of recovering concentrated sulfuric acid from the product obtained from the acid hydrolysis of a cellulose-containing material such a biomass. The method involves contacting the product with an extraction solvent comprising one or more of the C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 alcohols as the major component to separate the product into a sulfuric acid enriched phase. The sulfuric acid from this enriched phase is then separated and recovered by a further extraction procedure.

Growing community of inventors

Fayetteville, AR, United States of America

Edgar C Clausen