Patent ID: 7217545
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: C12P

Abstract:
1. A method for production of lactic acid, comprising the steps of: steam exploding a structural carbohydrate substrate, derived from a protein-rich lignocellulose-containing feedstock, by placing the structural carbohydrate substrate containing from about 3% to about 25% water in a pressure chamber, pressurizing the steam chamber with dry steam greater than about 1.24 atmospheres, maintaining the pressure until the structural carbohydrate substrate reaches temperatures in excess of the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure, and explosively decompressing the pressure to a pressure no greater than atmospheric pressure thereby generating a disrupted carbohydrate substrate; hydrolyzing the disrupted carbohydrate substrate; and fermenting the resulting hydrolyzed carbohydrate substrate to produce a fermented substrate containing lactic acid.