Process for enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materila and fermentation of sugars

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a fermentation product from ligno-cellulosic material, comprising the following steps: a) optionally pre-treatment b) optionally washing; c) enzymatic hydrolysis; d) fermentation; and e) optionally recovery of a fermentation product; wherein in step c) an enzyme composition is used that has a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C. or more, the hydrolysis time is 40 hours or more and the temperature is 50 degrees C. or more.

1 . A process for preparing a fermentation product from ligno-cellulosic material, comprising:
 a) optionally pre-treatment;   b) optionally washing;   c) enzymatic hydrolysis;   d) fermentation; and   e) optionally recovery of said fermentation product;   
       wherein in c), an enzyme composition is used that has a temperature of at least 55 degrees C., and the enzymatic hydrolysis is for a time of at least 40 hours and the enzymatic hydrolysis at a temperature of at least 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said reaction time in c) and d) together is not more than 150 hours at 90% glucose release, or a correspondingly shorter time at lower percentage glucose release. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said fermentation is conducted at a time from 18 to 120 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme composition used retains activity for at least 30 hours. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrolysis is conducted at a temperature of at least 55° C. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme composition is derived from a microorganism of genus  Talaromyces.    
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme composition used retains activity for a period of 30-500 hours. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein c) is conducted until at least 70% of available sugar in said lingocellulosic material is released. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein c) is conducted until at least 90% of available sugar in said lignocellulosic material is released. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein dosage of said enzyme composition is not more than 6 mg protein/g dry matter weight. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein in d), said fermentation is conducted with a microorganism that is able to ferment at least one C5 sugar. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry matter content in the hydrolysis c) is at least 14% w/dmw. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the dry matter content in said hydrolysis c) is at least 14-33% w/dmw. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein in e), after recovery of said fermentation product, a resulting slurry containing enzyme is recycled to c). 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said product of hydrolysis c) is subjected to solid liquid separation and at least part of a liquid fraction is fed to said fermentation d). 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said product of hydrolysis c) is subjected to solid liquid separation and at least a liquid fraction is recycled to c). 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said product of hydrolysis c) is subjected to solid liquid separation and a liquid fraction is fed to an ultrafiltration unit, wherein a filtrate is fed to said fermentation d), and retentate is recycled to c). 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein part of said filtrate is used to feed production fermentors for producing microorganisms used in said process. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to the  claim 17 , wherein part of said filtrate is used to feed production fermentors for producing said enzyme. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein part of said filtrate is used to feed production fermentors for producing said fermentation product. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 17 , in which said filtrate is used to feed production fermentors in batch, fed batch and/or continuous culture mode.