Abstract: Equipment for fermentation of beverages, particularly kombucha, that limits alcohol production during fermentation, increases throughput by reducing fermentation times, and utilizes production plant floorspace efficiently. Unlike traditional fermentation equipment that uses large, often cylindrical, vats, embodiments of the invention use vertical stacks of relatively shallow fermentation trays. The shallow trays increase the ratio of surface area to liquid volume, thereby improving oxygen flow to the fermenting liquid; increased oxygen flow reduces alcohol production for kombucha and reduces fermentation time. Air gaps between trays in the vertical stack, and headspace between the top of the fermenting liquid and the tray top edges, are optimized to promote oxygen flow. Fermentation trays are stacked vertically to maintain high production capacity with limited facility floorspace.

Abstract: Equipment for fermentation of beverages, particularly kombucha, that limits alcohol production during fermentation, increases throughput by reducing fermentation times, and utilizes production plant floorspace efficiently. Unlike traditional fermentation equipment that uses large, often cylindrical, vats, embodiments of the invention use vertical stacks of relatively shallow fermentation trays. The shallow trays increase the ratio of surface area to liquid volume, thereby improving oxygen flow to the fermenting liquid; increased oxygen flow reduces alcohol production for kombucha and reduces fermentation time. Air gaps between trays in the vertical stack, and headspace between the top of the fermenting liquid and the tray top edges, are optimized to promote oxygen flow. Fermentation trays are stacked vertically to maintain high production capacity with limited facility floorspace.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.