Process and apparatus for the production of ethanol

摘要

When the thin slops are completely recycled in conventional processes, the fermentation comes to a stop owing to the gradual increase in concentration of fine solids. The object of the invention is to keep the concentration of fine solids in permissible limits so that the thin slops can be utilised fully even without complete clarification thereof. The object is achieved by initially substantially removing the solids from the slops in a decanter and passing the overflow from the decanter to a wet classifier for the purpose of removing fines. The fine solids present in the overflow from the wet classifier are deposited in a relatively small separator and dried together with the solids concentrate from the decanter. The completely clarified overflow from the separator is recycled together with the underflow from the wet classifier to the raw materials processing. The process is particularly suitable for processing slops in ethanol processes in which starch-containing raw materials (cereals etc.) are processed.