Patent ID: 8372614
Filing Date: 2013-02-12
Classification: A23K,C12P,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of producing ethanol from solid citrus waste, said method comprising (i) optionally reducing the particle size of said solid citrus waste prior to heating, (ii) heating said solid citrus waste by direct steam injection at a temperature of about 80° to about 240° C. to form heated citrus waste and a vapor containing water and peel oil components, (iii) separating said heated citrus waste and said vapor containing water and peel oil components to produce separated heated citrus waste and separated vapor containing water and peel oil components by releasing said heated citrus waste and said vapor containing water and peel oil components into a flash tank or flash tube at a pressure lower than (ii), (iv) cooling said separated heated citrus waste to form cooled solid citrus waste, (v) simultaneously or sequentially hydrolyzing and fermenting said cooled solid citrus waste to produce ethanol and residue wherein said hydrolyzing involves adding hydrolytic enzymes to said cooled solid citrus waste, and (vi) separating said alcohol from said residue; wherein water is added in said method only in the form of steam during said heating.