	US 12,344,833 B2
	Method for separating biomass from solid fermentation product
Jeroen Bokhove, Gorinchem (NL); Andre Banier De Haan, Gorinchem (NL); and Willem Jacob Groot, Gorinchem (NL)
Assigned to PURAC Biochem BV, Gorinchem (NL)
Filed by PURAC Biochem BV, Gorinchem (NL)
Filed on May 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/662,553.
Application 17/662,553 is a continuation of application No. 16/304,959, granted, now 11,352,600, previously published as PCT/EP2017/062919, filed on May 29, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 16172032 (EP), filed on May 30, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0259549 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12N 1/02 (2006.01); C12P 7/56 (2006.01)

CPC C12N 1/02 (2013.01) [C12P 7/56 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method for separating biomass from a solid fermentation product, comprising:

providing an aqueous slurry comprising biomass and a solid fermentation product to an upper part of a biomass separator;

providing an aqueous medium to a bottom of a biomass separator, while withdrawing a product stream comprising the solid fermentation product from the bottom of the biomass separator and withdrawing a waste stream comprising the biomass from the upper part of the biomass separator;

contacting the aqueous slurry in countercurrent operation with the aqueous medium; and

mixing the aqueous slurry and the aqueous medium during the contacting with one or more dynamic mixing elements.