A by-product from an alcoholic beverage manufacturing process may be used to cultivate a thraustochytrid. The by-product may comprise a residue from a distillation step used in malt whisky manufacture, such as pot ale. The cultivation may be used to provide a product with enhanced amounts of lipids, oils, or fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids.

A by-product from an alcoholic beverage manufacturing process may be used to cultivate a thraustochytrid. The by-product may comprise a residue from a distillation step used in malt whisky manufacture, such as pot ale. The cultivation may be used to provide a product with enhanced amounts of lipids, oils, or fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids.

A method and system for improving ethanol production from biomass are provided which includes adding at least one separation aid to stillage, that is preferably whole stillage, that contains oil and/or fat generally in the form of an emulsion, to form a treated stillage prior to centrifuging the stillage, and centrifuging the treated stillage in at least one centrifuge to separate at least a portion of the solids content from the treated stillage. The separation aid contains at least one anionic surfactant, at least one non-ionic surfactant, at least one organic solvent that is miscible in water, and water, and optionally at least one lecithin. Treated stillage products are also provided which can contain the indicated separation aid.

A method and system for improving ethanol production from biomass are provided which includes adding at least one separation aid to stillage, that is preferably whole stillage, that contains oil and/or fat generally in the form of an emulsion, to form a treated stillage prior to centrifuging the stillage, and centrifuging the treated stillage in at least one centrifuge to separate at least a portion of the solids content from the treated stillage. The separation aid contains at least one anionic surfactant, at least one non-ionic surfactant, at least one organic solvent that is miscible in water, and water, and optionally at least one lecithin. Treated stillage products are also provided which can contain the indicated separation aid.

Methods, compositions, and systems for propagation and fermentation, particularly large scale operations for production of ethanol and dried distiller's grain are provided. Addition of urease and urea to propagation and/or fermentation improves yeast health, fermentation efficiency, and quality and quantity of DDG. Urease can be in reagent form or can be endogenous to the natural feedstock.

A process that provides for the reuse of yeast biomass used in the alcoholic fermentation of both sugarcane and corn in independent or integrated processes with steps of separation and reuse of solids prior to distillation and which are used in the process itself and in other industrial applications such as the production of high protein content (DDG/DDGS) ration, due to the alcohol recovery of the process, biodiesel, cell wall and yeast extract, as well as energy generation. The process also includes a drying step using indirect contact dryers operating with low pressure, non-noble vapors, such as plant vapor and exhaust vapor, and with the recovery of the ethanol contained in the wet cake.

A process that provides for the reuse of yeast biomass used in the alcoholic fermentation of both sugarcane and corn in independent or integrated processes with steps of separation and reuse of solids prior to distillation and which are used in the process itself and in other industrial applications such as the production of high protein content (DDG/DDGS) ration, due to the alcohol recovery of the process, biodiesel, cell wall and yeast extract, as well as energy generation. The process also includes a drying step using indirect contact dryers operating with low pressure, non-noble vapors, such as plant vapor and exhaust vapor, and with the recovery of the ethanol contained in the wet cake.

A distillation system/method for distilling finished beer and beer residues into spirits or non-alcoholic concentrates employs distillation under low temperature(s) via vacuum pressure to beneficially prevent degradation of the base product to further beneficially capture volatile compounds that are distinctly of beer (or indicative of other base compounds) aroma and flavor in the final distilled product. The system also distills and separates valuable volatile components, such as hop oils, from beer waste without degradation or contamination of the flavors, thus allowing for their use, reclamation and repurposing. The system/process maintains the quality of beer through the entire distillation process, thus creating spirits and concentrates of higher quality that contain the distinct character of the beers (or other base compound) from which they originate.

The present disclosure relates to a sulfonate-based ionic liquid. A simple process for obtaining the ionic liquid is provided. The conversion of waste into a usable bio-crude oil via a liquefaction process is further described, where the ionic liquid is employed as a catalyst.

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.