The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 05, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 30, 2008
Marcus Brian Mayhall Fenton, Cambridgeshire, GB;
Jens Havn Thorup, Bury St. Edmunds, GB;
Marcus Brian Mayhall Fenton, Cambridgeshire, GB;
Jens Havn Thorup, Bury St. Edmunds, GB;
Pursuit Dynamics PLC, Huntington, GB;
Abstract
The present invention provides processes and systems for treating biomass and, e.g., making biofuels, such as bioethanol, from the biomass. More particularly, one process according to the present invention includes (a) inducing at least a first portion of a composition containing biomass and a working fluid to flow into a passage of a fluid processing apparatus, (b) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the composition such that the working fluid is atomized and a vapor and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle, (c) condensing the vapor and droplet flow regime, (d) transferring the composition to a first holding vessel, and (e) holding the composition in the first holding vessel at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period of time, wherein a liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to or during the process. Thereafter, the composition may be further processed to form a biofuel, such as, e.g., bioethanol.