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CN-122003506-A - Method for producing ethanol using whey and use of ethanol and gaseous production byproducts

CN122003506ACN 122003506 ACN122003506 ACN 122003506ACN-122003506-A

Abstract

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a simplified and efficient process for producing ethanol from whey, which process is also sustainable and provides for the comprehensive use of production by-products and production of residual products. 1. A process for producing ethanol using whey, characterized in that the sugar concentration of the whey is increased by removing water (1) to form thickened whey, that the thickened whey is subsequently fermented (2) with the addition of enzymes and yeast for at least six days, that the fermented thickened whey is subsequently fed to at least one distillation process (3) or at least one distillation stage (3) and distilled to form ethanol, wherein at least one production by-product (4) and/or at least one production residual product (5) are collected, exported or captured for further processing.

Inventors

  • Marcel Oman

Assignees

  • VEY控股股份公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20240805
Priority Date
20230809

Claims (11)

  1. 1. A method for producing ethanol by using whey, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, Increasing the sugar concentration of the whey by removing water (1) to form a thickened whey; subsequently, fermenting (2) said thickened whey with the addition of enzymes and yeast, said fermenting (2) being carried out for at least six days; Subsequently, the fermented thickened whey is fed to at least one distillation process (3) or at least one distillation stage (3) and distilled to form ethanol, wherein at least one production by-product (4) and/or at least one production residual product (5) is collected, exported or captured for further processing.
  2. 2. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The removal of the water (1) is carried out by heating and/or by using a permeate filter.
  3. 3. The method according to any one of claim 1 and 2, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The at least one production byproduct (4) is exported or withdrawn as a gaseous fermentation byproduct for further use.
  4. 4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The carbon dioxide is led out or withdrawn as a gaseous production by-product (4) and compressed and/or purified for further use.
  5. 5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, For further use, waste heat is supplied as a production by-product (4) to the removal water (1) and/or the fermentation (2) and/or the at least one distillation process (3) and/or the at least one distillation stage (3) or temporarily stored.
  6. 6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, For further use, the at least one production residual product (5) is fed as a fermentation residual product or as a distillation residual product to a biogas plant (6) or temporarily stored for biogas processing.
  7. 7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The at least one distillation process (3) comprises two or more distillation stages (3).
  8. 8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The fermentation (2) is carried out for 7 or 8 days and/or comprises a rest period.
  9. 9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The fermentation (2) is carried out at a temperature of 5 to 50 degrees celsius.
  10. 10. Use of ethanol produced by the method according to one of the preceding claims as food grade alcohol, as industrial alcohol or for fuel production.
  11. 11. Use of carbon dioxide produced in the process according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 10 as a gaseous production by-product for industrial purposes.

Description

Method for producing ethanol using whey and use of ethanol and gaseous production byproducts Technical Field The present invention relates to a process for producing ethanol using whey, wherein reduced water whey is fermented for at least 6 days and subsequently distilled. In addition, the production byproducts and the production residual products should be collected, exported or captured for further processing. The ethanol can be used in food field, industry and as fuel. The invention also relates to the use of the ethanol produced and to the use of the gaseous production by-products obtained. Background Methods for producing ethanol from whey are known. EP 1 918 381 Al describes a process in which whey is treated and processed in a complex manner and with heat input before the fermentation process is carried out. Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a simplified and efficient process for producing ethanol from whey, which process is also sustainable and provides for the comprehensive use of production by-products and production of residual products. In certain use cases, the present invention achieves a method of producing ethanol using whey, wherein the sugar concentration of the whey is increased by removing water to form a thickened whey. To this end, the whey may be retained in a storage tank or transferred to a suitable tank or vessel to remove water, or the removal of water may be performed during pumping or recycling. Subsequently, the thickened whey is fermented with the addition of enzymes and yeast, the fermentation or fermentation process being carried out for at least six days. At the same time, carbon dioxide is collected as a by-product. Subsequently, the fermented thickened whey is fed to at least one distillation process or at least one distillation stage and distilled to form ethanol. Provided that at least one production byproduct and/or at least one production residual product is collected, exported or captured for further processing. After at least one distillation process or at least one distillation stage, the ethanol is introduced and/or stored in a suitable container or tank, respectively, or is retained in a container or tank provided for distillation. The advantageous result is that the whey, which is wasteful, illegal or expensive to dispose of itself, is treated with little complexity to form ethanol and at the same time the energy input is minimized and, in addition, the process is comprehensive, efficient, resource-saving and environmentally friendly due to the intended further treatment of at least one production byproduct and/or at least one production residual product collected, exported or captured for this purpose. A further aspect of the invention is the use of ethanol produced by the method according to one of the preceding claims as food grade alcohol, as industrial alcohol or for fuel production, with the result that available resources which are waste per se and which have to be disposed of at high expense are effectively used and no other resources, such as processed foods or food raw materials, are treated for this purpose. Thus, alternatives to petroleum-based fuels are produced. Furthermore, a third aspect of the invention is to provide the use of carbon dioxide produced in the process as a gaseous production by-product for industrial purposes, to make such simply produced carbon dioxide available and to make such carbon dioxide not go to atmosphere unexamined, whereas carbon dioxide is produced in alternative processes with high energy input or with pollution or mixing with other gases. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. By heating and/or removing water using a permeate filter, all components are retained with little or no change. This facilitates the further use of the produced residual product. Removal of water by heating may be supported, for example, by vacuum applied to a suitable container or tank. Removal of water using a permeation filter may be performed, for example, during circulation of whey. By withdrawing or withdrawing at least one of the production byproducts as a gaseous fermentation byproduct for further use, one or more processes for further use of the production byproducts may be operated directly or the production byproducts may be temporarily stored for further use. Advantageously, carbon dioxide is exported or withdrawn as a gaseous production by-product and/or compressed and/or purified for further use, such that further use is simplified or transportation for further use is simplified. Advantageously, waste heat is fed as a by-product of the production to the fermentation and/or at least one distillation process and/or at least one distillation stage or temporary storage for further use, thereby improving the energy balance of the production process, facilitating continuous temperature control and minimizing the use of additional energy sources. Wa