Patent ID: 7810425

Claim:
An apparatus for processing at least one member selected from the group consisting of grain, oilseed, sugar, and carbohydrate, the apparatus including: a water source configured to supply water; a heat source configured to heat the water, wherein the heat source is a direct fired steam generator, wherein the direct fired steam generator provides exhaust products of combustion into the water to generate steam including the exhaust products of combustion, wherein the exhaust products of combustion include NO x and SO x ; a water processor coupled between the water source and the heat source, the water processor being configured to process and neutralize at least one chemical present in the water; and a fermentor for utilizing the steam, a product, and a mixture, where the steam, the product, and the mixture interact to produce at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethanol, lactic acid, and citric acid, and an induced draft hot air blower which transports a portion of the exhaust products of combustion to a wet scrubber, the product including at least one member selected from the group consisting of the grain, the oilseed, the sugar, and the carbohydrate, the mixture including at least one enzyme and yeast.