ETHANOL PRODUCING PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

A process for producing ethanol by carrying out enzymatic saccharification and ethanol fermentation, in the same reaction zone, of pretreated lignocellulose biomass raw material and by recovering ethanol through direct distillation from the reaction treatment liquid within the reaction zone. In this process, appropriate use is made of an ethanol production apparatus characterized by having one reaction vessel provided with a biomass raw material charge opening, a saccharification enzyme feeding port and a fermentation microorganism feeding port; heating means for regulating the internal temperature of the reaction vessel; pH control means for regulating the pH value of the interior of the reaction vessel; agitation means for agitating the liquid in the reaction vessel; and distillation means for distilling the liquid in the reaction vessel, wherein the distillation means is directly connected to the reaction vessel. Ethanol can be efficiently produced from lignocellulose biomass by simple operations.