Patent ID: 8303810

Claim:
An ethanol water solution concentrating device for concentrating ethanol water solution, comprising: a water separation membrane; an ethanol water solution storing unit which is provided to one surface side of the water separation membrane; a depressurization unit provided to the other surface side of the water separation membrane; an ethanol water solution supply unit connected to the ethanol water solution storing unit; an ethanol vapor residing unit which is provided above the ethanol water solution storing unit; a dry gas supply unit connected to the ethanol vapor residing unit; a suction unit connected to the ethanol vapor residing unit; and an ethanol collection unit which is provided between the ethanol vapor residing unit and the suction unit, and wherein the ethanol water solution storing unit stores an ethanol water solution yielded from ethanol fermentation of a water solution of saccharide generated by saccharification of lignocellulose by enzyme, the ethanol water solution supply unit supplies the ethanol water solution to the ethanol water solution storing unit, the ethanol vapor residing unit provides a space wherein ethanol vapor resides, the dry gas supply unit supplies dry gas to the ethanol vapor residing unit, the suction unit evacuates the interior of the ethanol vapor residing unit, and the ethanol collection unit condenses and collects concentrated ethanol condensed from ethanol vapor evacuated from the ethanol vapor residing unit.