LIGHT PHASE PRODUCT RECOVERY METHODS AND SYSTEMS

摘要

Methods and systems for recovering a desired co-product from a feedstock to ethanol production process are provided. The methods involve a multi-step separation of a fermentation-derived feedstock, in which an initial separation produces a discharge stream and an output feed stream including the co-product, and a final separation further purifies the output feed stream while also producing a recycle stream that is reintroduced into the separation process. The systems include at least an initial and at least a final separation device which are in fluid communication in both upstream and downstream directions. The initial separation device separates at least a portion of a non-co-product containing phase from a feed stream comprising the non-co-product containing phase and a co-product containing phase, and the final separation device separates at least a portion of the co-product containing phase from a stream comprising the co-product containing phase and a non-co-product containing phase.

主权项

1. A method of recovering oil from an oil-containing, grain-based feedstock-to-ethanol fermentation-conversion process, comprising:
a. an initial separation comprising separating a fermentation-derived stream into a final separation feed stream and a heavy phase discharge stream using at least a first initial separation device, wherein the final separation feed stream comprises more light phase than the heavy phase discharge stream and the heavy phase discharge stream comprises more heavy phase than light phase; b. a final separation comprising separating the final separation feed stream into an oil-containing stream and a recycle stream using at least a first oil-recovery separation device; and, c. recycling the recycle stream into a feed stream for the initial separation.