The disclosed invention is an improved method for treating ethanol
distillation still bottoms by recovering, through solids separation and
pressurized membrane filtration, pure water from still bottoms for human
consumption or reuse, and concentrating the solids with beneficial
properties recovered before anaerobic digestion. The invention is an
improved process because it can reduce the volume of solids to manage,
recovers the water from the fermentation still bottoms while pasteurized,
maintains the chemical and physical properties of solids for beneficial
property recovery, improves ethanol and energy efficiency, and results in
clean discharge to the environment including carbon dioxide recovery. A
bioreactor produces a gas rich in methane fuel from the concentrate to
power the pressurized filtration process and an aqueous ammonia solution
to recover or recycle. This invention improves environmental quality,
conserves energy, and produces a beverage water for bottling that can be
of an organic origin with reliable source and quality.