Device for fermentation integrated with separation and purification of alcohols

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a device for fermentation integrated with separation and purification of acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) or butanol alone, including a medium tank (1), used for supplying a medium into a bioreactor; a bioreactor (2), connected with the medium tank (1), used for fermentation; a gas distributor (9), used for supplying gas bubble to the fermentation broth; a membrane separation unit (4), with gas communication to the bioreactor (2), used for receiving a gas with ABE or butanol from the bioreactor and separating ABE or butanol; a condensation unit (5), used for recovering ABE or butanol; a vacuum manometer (6) and a vacuum pump (8), used for supplying a force for driving ABE or butanol in a vapor form; and product tank (7), used for receiving a product.

1 . A device for fermentation integrated with separation and purification of acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) or butanol alone, comprising:
 a medium tank, used for supplying a medium into a bioreactor;   a bioreactor, connected with the medium tank, used for fermentation;   a gas distributor, used for supplying gas bubble to the fermentation broth;   a membrane separation unit, with gas communication to the bioreactor, used for receiving a gas with ABE or butanol from the bioreactor and separating ABE or butanol;   a condensation unit, used for recovering ABE or butanol;   a vacuum manometer and a vacuum pump, used for supplying a force for driving ABE or butanol in a vapor form;   a product tank, used for receiving a product.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump used for circulating the gas in the membrane separation unit back to the bioreactor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane in the membrane separation unit is a vapor permeation membrane, preferably an organic hydrophobic membrane or an organic and inorganic composite membrane with high selectivity to butanol and acetone, more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of silicone, poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne], polypropylene, polybutadiene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene or a derivative thereof, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber, and molecular sieve material, most preferably a composite membrane containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); the membrane is preferably a tubular membrane, a wound membrane, a plate membrane, or a hollow fiber membrane.