The present invention relates to a method (300) for reducing an amount of microorganisms in brewers spent grains (BSG). The method (300) comprises feeding (S305) a liquid (120) and the BSG (110) into a mixing arrangement (130), mixing (S310), by means of the mixing arrangement (130), the liquid (120) and the BSG to form a mixture, feeding (S330) the mixture into a heat exchanger (140), and heating (S335), by means of the heat exchanger (140), the mixture for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the amount of microorganisms in the BSG (110) is reduced.

A process for the manufacture of butanol, acetone and/or other renewable chemicals is provided wherein the process utilises one or more of the group comprising by-products of the manufacture of malt whisky, such as draff, pot ale and/or spent lees, biomass substrates, such as paper, sludge from paper manufacture and spent grains from distillers and brewers, and diluents, such as water and spent liquid from other fermentations. The process comprises treating a substrate to hydrolyse it and fermenting the treated substrate at an initial pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.0. Also provided is a biofuel comprising butanol manufactured according to the process of the invention.

A process for the manufacture of butanol, acetone and/or other renewable chemicals is provided wherein the process utilises one or more of the group comprising by-products of the manufacture of malt whisky, such as draff, pot ale and/or spent lees, biomass substrates, such as paper, sludge from paper manufacture and spent grains from distillers and brewers, and diluents, such as water and spent liquid from other fermentations. The process comprises treating a substrate to hydrolyse it and fermenting the treated substrate at an initial pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.0. Also provided is a biofuel comprising butanol manufactured according to the process of the invention.

Methods and systems are provided for processing constituent materials from brewer's spent grains (BSG) for making packaging and/or products. The spent grains are arranged into a set of balanced constituent materials of approximately 80% to 90% grains, 10% to 20% hops, and less than 1% of spices by weight. This set of constituent materials is then formed into products, such as paper and packaging. The paper can be used to create labels or other carriers for beverages, especially for bottled beverages.

Methods and systems are provided for processing constituent materials from brewer's spent grains (BSG) for making packaging and/or products. The spent grains are arranged into a set of balanced constituent materials of approximately 80% to 90% grains, 10% to 20% hops, and less than 1% of spices by weight. This set of constituent materials is then formed into products, such as paper and packaging. The paper can be used to create labels or other carriers for beverages, especially for bottled beverages.

A method for removing one or more congeners from an alcoholic composition, including placing a quantity of an alcoholic composition in a pressure-controllable environment, decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment, removing one or more unwanted congeners from the alcoholic composition to yield a purified alcoholic composition, and removing the purified alcoholic composition from the pressure-controllable environment.

A method for removing one or more congeners from an alcoholic composition, including placing a quantity of an alcoholic composition in a pressure-controllable environment, decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment, removing one or more unwanted congeners from the alcoholic composition to yield a purified alcoholic composition, and removing the purified alcoholic composition from the pressure-controllable environment.

Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide for the efficient distillation of ethanol in an ethanol plant including a beer column. Heat is captured in the distillation process and utilized to drive operations in the ethanol plant.

Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide for the efficient distillation of ethanol in an ethanol plant including a beer column. Heat is captured in the distillation process and utilized to drive operations in the ethanol plant.

A process for obtaining a concentrated flavour mixture from a malt-based beverage, the process comprising: —providing a malt-based fermented liquid; —subjecting the malt-based fermented liquid to a CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2-stripping step or, at least partially, degassing the malt-based liquid, thereby creating a gas stream comprising volatile flavour components; —collecting the gas stream comprising volatile flavour components; and —separating, by a carbon dioxide or N.sub.2 scrubber, at least partially, the CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2 in the gas stream from the volatile flavour components, obtaining a concentrated volatile flavour fraction; —collecting said volatile flavour fraction and packaging the volatile flavour fraction.