PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CARBON DIOXIDE AND ETHANOL BY CONTINUOUS FERMENTATION AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCESS

摘要

1. Process for the production of carbon dioxide and ethanol by continuous fermentation of a culture medium inoculated with micro-organisms of the bacterial type appertaining to the flocculant Zymomonas genus with retention and recycling of the micro-organisms, the retention being effected by internal decanting and recycling obtained by a reduction of the speed of circulation of the fluids, with reduction of the turbulence in the upper part of the fermentation zone by a sudden enlargement of the cross-section of the said zone, characterized in that the culture medium is inoculated with a highly flocculant strain of Zymomonas mobilis, deposited at the pasteur Institute under the number I-411, and in that the fermentation gases are collected at the centre of the upper part of the fermenting zone where the turbulence of the fermentation medium is reduced, with collection and withdrawal of the carbon dioxide produced at different levels of the fermentation zone.