Abstract: A system for transferring heat from an ethanol and water vapor stream is disclosed as having a first heat exchanger, a valve system coupled to first heat exchanger and a first tank, a second tank coupled to the valve system, a second heat exchanger coupled to first tank and second tank, and a pipe line connecting the second tank to the first heat exchanger. A method for transferring heat is provided and involves intermittently cooling a first media, transferring heat from the first media to a second media, and directing the second media to a valve system. The valve system directs a flow of the second media to the first tank when a temperature of second media is above a temperature set point and directs the flow of the second media to the second tank when the temperature of second media is below the temperature set point.

Abstract: A system for conveying biomass is disclosed. The system is configured to convey biomass for collection, transport, or processing. The system contains a housing comprising an opening configured for the entry of biomass, at least one shoe skid configured to offset the housing in a vertical orientation, an apparatus at least partially within the housing comprising at least one rotating blade assembly, and a conduit configured to discharge biomass from the housing so that biomass entering into the housing can be projected by the apparatus through the conduit for collection or transport.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an ethanologen for use in biorefinery is disclosed. The method for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass comprises the steps of providing a medium for propagation of ethanologen and supplying a first cell mass of ethanologen to the medium. A first cell mass of ethanologen is propagated into a larger second cell mass of ethanologen.

Abstract: Methods and systems for isolating a high purity starch stream are provided. The methods provide an initial treatment step in advance of traditional grinding or fractionation operations (such as dry milling or wet milling operations) that facilitate separation of starch from other components of starch-based grains, for example facilitate separation of soft endosperm from other components of corn kernels including hard endosperm. The systems include a first treatment system for separating a high purity starch stream from other components of the grain stream, wherein the system can be configured as a bolt on for traditional milling operations such as wet milling and dry milling operations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for purifying feedstock-to-ethanol fermentation products are disclosed. The methods include the use of a solvent in the form of a supercritical fluid or liquid gas such as supercritical CO2 or liquid CO2 to dry fermentation beer solids, and/or to extract oil, ethanol, or ethanol and oil from fermentation beer or mixtures derived therefrom. Systems include a separations reactor having a first portion defined by walls that are impermeable to fermentation beer liquids joined to a second portion defined by walls that are impermeable to fermentation beer liquids by a third portion defined by walls that are permeable to fermentation beer liquids and impermeable to fermentation beer solids.

Abstract: Methods and system for producing a slip stream of sugar, for example for use in the production of one or more chemicals, in ethanol fermentation facilities. In some embodiments, the methods and systems have little to no impact on the level of production of ethanol, despite also producing a slip stream of sugar. The methods and systems can be implemented in dry mill ethanol, wet mill ethanol, and lignocellulosic ethanol fermentation facilities and processes.

Abstract: Waterborne aqueous-alcohol soluble protein compositions, methods of making the compositions, and applications thereof are disclosed. The dispersion compositions include protein, water, acid, and optionally an ester of a carboxylic acid. The methods of making the compositions including combining the protein, water, acid and optionally ester to form a dispersion without the benefit of alcohol. Applications include industrial and food applications, such as binders and coatings, for example paint binders or coatings for paper products and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A system for the combustion of high solids liquid to produce steam for the production of ethanol is disclosed. The system comprises a method for combusting high solids liquid. The method comprises supplying a stream of high solids liquid to a furnace; atomizing the stream of high solids liquid into the furnace; and distributing biomass fuel into the furnace. The stream of high solids liquid are combusted with the biomass fuel in the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods of propagating one or more organisms by using a carbon source that includes xylose (e.g., xylose syrup from pretreating lignocellulosic feedstock) and/or a nutrient source that includes a stillage component (e.g., thin stillage derived from a corn-to-ethanol process) in the propagation medium. The organisms include those that can convert one or more monosaccharides into an alcohol via fermentation, such as yeast. The present invention is also directed to related compositions.

Abstract: A method of producing bioproducts from a feedstock in a system configured to produce ethanol and distillers grains from a fermentation product is disclosed. A system configured to process feedstock into a fermentation product and bioproducts including ethanol and meal is disclosed. A bioproduct produced from a fermentation product produced from a feedstock in a biorefining system is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for the production of ethanol is disclosed. The system comprises a system for recycling water in an ethanol production process. The system may comprise: a water supply that supplies water to the ethanol production process, a cooling tower system that supplies water to the ethanol production process, and a treatment system that supplies water to the ethanol production process. The treatment system may be a reverse osmosis system that supplies a retentate stream to the ethanol production process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for remediating one or more impurities (e.g., diacetyl) that are present in manufacturing an alcohol (e.g., ethanol) from cellulosic biomass. The methods and systems include reacting the one or more impurities with at least one treatment compound (e.g., an oxidizing agent, an alkali compound, or a mixture thereof) to form a reaction product that can be separated from the alcohol.

Abstract: Waterborne aqueous-alcohol soluble protein compositions, methods of making the compositions, and applications thereof are disclosed. The dispersion compositions include protein, water, acid, and optionally an ester of a carboxylic acid. The methods of making the compositions including combining the protein, water, acid and optionally ester to form a dispersion without the benefit of alcohol. Applications include industrial and food applications, such as binders and coatings, for example paint binders or coatings for paper products and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an ethanologen for use in biorefinery is disclosed. The method for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass comprises the steps of providing a medium for propagation of ethanologen and supplying a first cell mass of ethanologen to the medium. A first cell mass of ethanologen is propagated into a larger second cell mass of ethanologen.

Abstract: Methods and systems for purifying feedstock-to-ethanol fermentation products are disclosed. The methods include the use of a solvent in the form of a supercritical fluid or liquid gas such as supercritical CO2 or liquid CO2 to dry fermentation beer solids, and/or to extract oil, ethanol, or ethanol and oil from fermentation beer or mixtures derived therefrom. Systems include a separations reactor having a first portion defined by walls that are impermeable to fermentation beer liquids joined to a second portion defined by walls that are impermeable to fermentation beer liquids by a third portion defined by walls that are permeable to fermentation beer liquids and impermeable to fermentation beer solids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a corn oil composition comprising unrefined corn oil having a free fatty acid content of less than about 5 weight percent, and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: Methods and systems for purifying feedstock-to-ethanol fermentation products are disclosed. The methods include the use of a solvent in the form of a supercritical fluid or liquid gas such as supercritical CO2 or liquid CO2 to dry fermentation beer solids, and/or to extract oil, ethanol, or ethanol and oil from fermentation beer or mixtures derived therefrom. Systems include a separations reactor having a first portion defined by walls that are impermeable to fermentation beer liquids joined to a second portion defined by walls that are impermeable to fermentation beer liquids by a third portion defined by walls that are permeable to fermentation beer liquids and impermeable to fermentation beer solids.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering a desired co-product from a feedstock to ethanol production process are provided. The methods involve a multi-step separation of a fermentation-derived feedstock, in which an initial separation produces a discharge stream and an output feed stream including the co-product, and a final separation further purifies the output feed stream while also producing a recycle stream that is reintroduced into the separation process. The systems include at least an initial and at least a final separation device which are in fluid communication in both upstream and downstream directions. The initial separation device separates at least a portion of a non-co-product containing phase from a feed stream comprising the non-co-product containing phase and a co-product containing phase, and the final separation device separates at least a portion of the co-product containing phase from a stream comprising the co-product containing phase and a non-co-product containing phase.

Abstract: Feed compositions and methods of making feed compositions are disclosed herein. The feed compositions may include, on a dry weight basis, crude protein in an amount of about 40 wt % or greater, crude fat in an amount of up to about 20 wt %, neutral detergent fiber in an amount of up to about 20 wt %, and lysine in an amount of about 2.55 wt % or greater. The methods involve separating a beer composition produced by a starch-based feedstock-to-ethanol conversion process into bulk solids and a fine solids, and removing liquid from the fine solids, in which the separating and removing are performed in a manner that reduces the total heat exposure of the fine solids as compared to processes relying on distillation to separate beer components and/or cooking to saccharify starch.