Regenerative vapor energy recovery system and method for use with an ethanol plant. Regenerative vapors are partially condensed in a regenerative precondenser using a warm water stream. The warm water stream is fed to the regenerative precondenser and the partially condensed regenerative vapor stream is sent back to the ethanol plant where the stream is fully condensed using an existing condenser. The ethanol plant is thus operated at greater energy efficiency with lower operating costs than would be achieved with conventional systems.

Provided herein is a process for producing one or more products from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises treating the lignocellulosic feedstock by contacting the feedstock at least sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid, or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock comprising one or more sulfonic acids. A process stream comprising one or more sulfonic acids is subsequently treated in a wet oxidation step to produce a stream comprising at least soluble oxidized phenolic compounds. The soluble oxidized phenolic compounds are then fed to an anaerobic digestion to produce methane. Optionally, hydrogen sulfide is produced during the anaerobic digestion. The hydrogen sulfide may then be converted to an acid selected from sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof in one or more steps. The acid may then be re-used in treatment as desired.

Provided herein is a process for producing one or more products from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises treating the lignocellulosic feedstock by contacting the feedstock at least sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid, or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock comprising one or more sulfonic acids. A process stream comprising one or more sulfonic acids is subsequently treated in a wet oxidation step to produce a stream comprising at least soluble oxidized phenolic compounds. The soluble oxidized phenolic compounds are then fed to an anaerobic digestion to produce methane. Optionally, hydrogen sulfide is produced during the anaerobic digestion. The hydrogen sulfide may then be converted to an acid selected from sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof in one or more steps. The acid may then be re-used in treatment as desired.

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

The present disclosure is directed to methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems for minimizing or reducing contamination in facilities implementing fermentation or distillation processes. In embodiments, the facility is a biofuel plant that produces fermentation product such as product alcohol like butanol. In some embodiments, the methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems are operable to implement clean in place contamination (CIP) mitigation techniques that can also include sterilize in place (SIP) mitigation techniques to decontaminate equipment including surfaces of the equipment that come in contact with materials used in the production of product alcohols. Other cleaning and contamination minimizing techniques are also described.

The present disclosure is directed to methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems for minimizing or reducing contamination in facilities implementing fermentation or distillation processes. In embodiments, the facility is a biofuel plant that produces fermentation product such as product alcohol like butanol. In some embodiments, the methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems are operable to implement clean in place contamination (CIP) mitigation techniques that can also include sterilize in place (SIP) mitigation techniques to decontaminate equipment including surfaces of the equipment that come in contact with materials used in the production of product alcohols. Other cleaning and contamination minimizing techniques are also described.

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

A process for producing one or more products from a lignocellulosic feedstock comprising treating the lignocellulosic feedstock to produce sugar in one or more stages comprising addition of acid, base or a combination thereof and introduction of heat. The addition of the acid, base, or a combination thereof produces a salt. The sugar is fermented to produce a fermentation product and the fermentation product is recovered. A stream comprising the salt is treated by wet oxidation with the introduction of heat. A stream comprising salt resulting from the wet oxidation is provided for use as a salt product or a process chemical for introduction within the process. Heat from the wet oxidation may be supplied to any stage of the process in which heat is introduced.

A process for producing one or more products from a lignocellulosic feedstock comprising treating the lignocellulosic feedstock to produce sugar in one or more stages comprising addition of acid, base or a combination thereof and introduction of heat. The addition of the acid, base, or a combination thereof produces a salt. The sugar is fermented to produce a fermentation product and the fermentation product is recovered. A stream comprising the salt is treated by wet oxidation with the introduction of heat. A stream comprising salt resulting from the wet oxidation is provided for use as a salt product or a process chemical for introduction within the process. Heat from the wet oxidation may be supplied to any stage of the process in which heat is introduced.

A method and system for distilling alcohol in an alcohol production process is disclosed. The method can include fermenting a mixture of water and milled grain to produce alcohol-laden beer, which can be distilled in a beer column maintained at a subatmospheric pressure to produce a vapor, primarily including alcohol, and whole stillage. Stillage is separated from the whole stillage. Water is evaporated from the separated stillage to produce first-concentrated stillage and first effect steam. Water from the first-concentrated stillage is evaporated with heat from the first effect steam to produce second effect steam. In one embodiment, second effect steam can be used to supply sufficient heat to a side stripper for distilling the alcohol-laden beer. In another embodiment, the method can include generating steam from one or more steam generator to supply sufficient heat to the beer column for distilling the alcohol-laden beer.