Description:Form 2

THE PATENT ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)

“ENHANCED ETHANOLIC FERMENTATION OF FIRST-GENERATION FEEDSTOCK THROUGH SYNERGISTIC UTILIZATION OF DRY ALGAE BIOMASS”

in the name of PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY an Indian National having address at, PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY, CHINNA KALAPET, KALAPET, PUDUCHERRY, PUDUCHERRY, PUDUCHERRY – 605014, INDIA.

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
SOURCE AND GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN OF THE BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL:

SL.
NO COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME PART OF BIOLOGICAL SOURCES SOURCE OF ACCESS DETAILS OF GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
1. Sugarcane Saccharum officinarum Stem Market (i) Name of the Market:
Sunrise A-Z Supermarket.

(ii) Contact details: University, Pondicherry University, Chinna Kalapet, Auroville, Kalapet, Puducherry- 605014.
0413 265 6393.
2. Spirulina Arthrospira maxima Entire organism Trader (i) Name of the trader:
Amazon.

(ii) Contact details: Ground floor, Eros Plaza, Eros Corporate centre, Nehru Place,
New Delhi,
South Delhi-110019.
3. Brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cervicea
Entire organism Market (i) Name of the Market:
Sunrise A-Z Supermarket.

(ii) Contact details: University, Pondicherry University, Chinna Kalapet, Auroville, Kalapet, Puducherry- 605014.
0413 265 6393.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a feed stock fermentation process. Specifically, the present invention relates to a first-generation feed stock fermentation process for production of biofuel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a first-generation feed stock fermentation process for production of biofuel by utilizing nutrient-rich microalgae cultures without any separate fermentation media and product thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vast number of commercial products that are difficult to produce synthetically are today produced by fermenting organisms. Such products include alcohols (e.g., ethanol, methanol, butanol, 1,3-propanediol); organic acids (e.g., citric acid, acetic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, gluconate, lactic acid, succinic acid, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid); ketones (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid); gases (e.g., H2 and CO2), and more complex compounds, including, for example, antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and tetracycline); enzymes; vitamins (e.g., riboflavin, B12, beta-carotene); and hormones. Fermentation is also commonly used in the consumable alcohol (e.g., beer and wine), dairy (e.g., in the production of yogurt and cheese), leather, and tobacco industries.

A vast number of processes of producing fermentation products, such as ethanol, by fermentation of sugars provided by degradation of starch-containing material are known in the art.

However, production of fermentation products, such as ethanol, from such plant materials is still too costly. Therefore, there is a need for providing processes that can increase the yield of the fermentation product and thereby reducing the production costs.

There are reports available in the state of art relating to ethanolic fermentation process.

US4316956A discloses a fermentation process which consists essentially of fermenting a 10%-45% w/w aqueous slurry of granular starch for the production of ethanol with an ethanol producing microorganism in the presence of alpha-amylase and gluco-amylase, the conduct of said fermentation being characterized by low levels of dextrin and fermentable sugars in solution in the fermentation broth throughout the fermentation, and, thereafter recovering enzymes from the fermentation broth for use a new in fermentation of granular starch.

US6509180B1 discloses a method to produce ethanol at very high yield, said method comprising: (a) culturing a homoacetogens microorganism in a medium comprising a carbohydrate source to produce acetate, acetic acid or mixture thereof; and (b) chemically converting said acetate, acetic acid or mixtures thereof to said ethanol; wherein said step of chemically converting is not a fermentation; and wherein at least about 70% of carbon in said carbohydrate source is converted into said ethanol.

US20040115779A1 discloses a process of producing a fermentation product, which process comprises a fermentation step, wherein the fermentation step is carried out in the presence of at least one carbohydrate-source generating-enzyme activity and at least one alpha-amylase activity.

However, conventional fermentation processes exhibit advantages they do exhibit disadvantages such as relying on separate fermentation media that increases the overall cost of the fermentation process, do not fully leverage the potential benefits of nutrient-rich microalgae cultures, missing out on opportunities for enhanced fermentation efficiency and sustainable bioprocessing.

Thus, there exists a need in the state of art to develop a cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process for production of ethanol.

Hence an attempt has been made to develop a cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process by utilizing dry algae biomass as self-sustaining fermentation medium without the need for separate fermentation media which is devoid of above said drawbacks.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to develop a first-generation feed stock fermentation process.

Another object of the present invention is to develop a biofuel, ethanol for transportation of automobiles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a first-generation feed stock fermentation process employing sugarcane molasses, Arthrospira maxima and Saccharomyces cervicea.

Yet another object of the present invention is to develop an ethanol exhibiting enhanced efficiency and being cost-effective.

Further object of the present invention is to utilize the prepared ethanol for transportation and electricity generation purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 depicts enhanced ethanolic fermentation of first-generation feedstock through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass of the present invention in flowchart representation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process, for production of ethanol through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass without the need for separate fermentation media. The fermentation process of the present invention comprises of

a. mixing sugarcane molasses and Arthrospira maxima dry biomass to form a molasses mixture;
b. subjecting the molasses mixture to fermentation in batch culture by inoculating the molasses mixture with dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture followed by incubation to obtain ethanol.
The present invention also discloses an ethanol prepared by the process as described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process, for production of ethanol through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass without the need for separate fermentation media and product thereof.

The present invention pertains to an innovative method for enhancing the efficiency of ethanolic fermentation by synergistically employing dry algae biomass and first-generation

feedstock, such as sugarcane molasses.

The present invention involves the introduction of Arthrospira maxima into the fermentation process of first-generation feedstock, such as sugarcane molasses. The dry algae biomass Arthrospira maxima is blended with the feedstock such as sugarcane molasses at 5:2 weight ratio to form a molasses mixture. This molasses mixture is then subjected to the fermentation process by inoculating the molasses mixture with 10% v/v dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture followed by incubating in dark anaerobic condition at 280C for 72h to obtain ethanol.

The nutritional properties of Arthrospira maxima contribute to enhanced fermentation efficiency, allowing for efficient conversion of sugars into ethanol. Arthrospira maxima serves as a self-sustaining fermentation medium, providing the necessary nutrients for the fermentation process. This approach eliminates the need for separate fermentation media, thereby economizing the fermentation process.

The ethanol produced during fermentation process was then subjected to experimental studies to ascertain its efficacy.

Table 1: Fermentation efficiency for ethanol production:

Total sugar before fermentation Total sugar after fermentation Total sugar consumed SD Sugar consumed Ethanol concentration Ethanol yield Fermentation efficiency
g/L g/L g/L % g/L # %
20 g sucrose Without nutrients 20.00 8.60 11.40 0.310 57.00 2.82 ± 0.313 0.247 48.52
20 g biomass Without nutrients 6.35 3.68 2.67 0.213 42.05 0.10 ± 0.276 0.037 7.32
20 g sucrose With nutrients 20.00 7.85 12.15 0.057 60.75 5.31 ± 0.183 0.430 85.81
20 g biomass With nutrients 6.35 3.53 2.82 0.089 44.41 0.14 ± 0.168 0.050 10.62
20 g molasses Without nutrients 13.28 5.85 7.43 0.098 55.92 1.75 ± 0.234 0.235 46.12
20 g molasses With nutrients 13.28 5.85 7.43 0.333 47.57 1.75 ± 0.292 0.235 8.53
20 g molasses + 8 g biomass (Formulation of the present invention) Without nutrients 15.43 6.80 8.63 0.113 83.63 2.03 ± 0.330 0.235 89.47

Advantages:

• The present invention enhances the efficiency of ethanolic fermentation by synergistically employing dry algae biomass such as Arthrospira maxima and first-generation feedstock, such as sugarcane molasses.

• Potential for sustainable bioprocessing through utilization of nutrient-rich microalgae.

cultures. The feed stock fermentation process of the present invention is cost-effective since Arthrospira maxima replaces the need for separate fermentation media.

In one of the preferred embodiments, the present invention shall disclose a cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process, for production of ethanol through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass without the need for separate fermentation media. The fermentation process comprises of

a. mixing sugarcane molasses and Arthrospira maxima dry biomass to form a molasses mixture;
b. subjecting the molasses mixture to fermentation in batch culture by inoculating the molasses mixture with dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture followed by incubation to obtain ethanol.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention shall disclose an ethanol prepared by the process as described above.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention shall disclose a cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process, for production of ethanol through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass without the need for separate fermentation media. The fermentation process comprises of

a. mixing 5:2 w/w ratio of sugarcane molasses and Arthrospira maxima dry biomass to form a molasses mixture;
b. subjecting the molasses mixture to fermentation in batch culture by inoculating the molasses mixture with 10% v/v dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture followed by incubating in dark anaerobic condition at 280C for 72h to obtain ethanol.
In further preferred embodiment, the present invention shall disclose an ethanol prepared by the process as described above.

Working example:

First-generation feed stock fermentation process.

5:2 w/w ratio of sugarcane molasses and Arthrospira maxima dry biomass were mixed to form a molasses mixture.

The molasses mixture was subjected to fermentation in batch culture by inoculating the molasses mixture with 10% v/v dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture and incubated in dark anaerobic condition at 280C for 72h to obtain ethanol.

Although the invention has now been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments and exemplified with respect thereto, one skilled in art can readily appreciate that various modifications, changes, omissions and substitutions may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process, for production of ethanol through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass without the need for separate fermentation media, the claimed fermentation process comprises of
a. mixing sugarcane molasses and Arthrospira maxima dry biomass to form a molasses mixture;
b. subjecting the said molasses mixture to fermentation in batch culture by inoculating the said molasses mixture with dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture followed by incubation to obtain ethanol.
2. An ethanol prepared by the process as claimed in claim 1.
3. A cost effective enhanced first-generation feed stock fermentation process, for production of ethanol through synergistic utilization of dry algae biomass without the need for separate fermentation media, the claimed fermentation process comprises of
a. mixing 5:2 w/w ratio of sugarcane molasses and Arthrospira maxima dry biomass to form a molasses mixture;
b. subjecting the said molasses mixture to fermentation in batch culture by inoculating the said molasses mixture with 10% v/v dry yeast saccharomyces cerviceae culture followed by incubating in dark anaerobic condition at 280C for 72h to obtain ethanol.
4. An ethanol prepared by the process as claimed in claim 3.

Dated this 26th day of APR 2024
For PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY
By its Patent Agent
Dr.B.Deepa
IN/PA 1477