Digester and digestion process

Abstract

A digestion apparatus is provided that include a vessel, a closure, and a fluid-transporting system. The vessel has a digestion chamber therein and an opening that provides access to the digestion chamber. The closure is adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber. The fluid-transporting system is adapted to direct fluid out of the digestion chamber back into the digestion chamber through an inlet port. The apparatus may include improved fluid heating, sample holding, safety and/or circulation options. Also provided are digestion methods that may use the digestion apparatus.

1 . A digestion apparatus, comprising: good
 a vessel having a digestion chamber therein and an opening that provides access to the digestion chamber;   a closure adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber;   a fluid-transporting system adapted to direct fluid out of the digestion chamber back into the digestion chamber through an inlet port; and   a fitting having at least five fitting ports in fluid communication with each other, at least one fitting port interfaced with the vessel, closure, and/or fluid-transporting system.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least three fitting ports define substantially coplanar fitting passageways. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the substantially coplanar fitting passageways are not parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein no substantially coplanar fitting passageways is a parallel to another. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fitting has exterior surfaces that define a prism. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the prism has a square or rectangular base. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve interfaced with a fitting port. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising an additional vessel interfaced with the one-way valve. 
     
     
         9 . A digestion apparatus comprising:
 a vessel having a digestion chamber therein and an opening that provides access to the digestion chamber;   a closure adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber;   a fluid-transporting system adapted to direct fluid out of an outlet port of the digestion chamber, past a heater, through an inlet port, and into the chamber;   a condenser interfaced with the fluid transporting system and/or chamber; and   a pressure-relieving means for relieving any excessive pressure buildup in the digestion chamber, the pressure-relieving means allows for fluid released therefrom to flow to the condenser.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure-relieving means includes a rupture disk and/or a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure-relieving means extends through the closure. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure-relieving means includes a valve. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure-relieving means fluidly communicates with the condenser via flexible tubing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible tubing is connected to the pressure-relieving means and/or the condenser via quick disconnect fitting. 
     
     
         15 . A digestion apparatus, comprising:
 a vessel having a digestion chamber therein and an opening that provides access to the digestion chamber;   a closure adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber; and   a fluid-transporting system adapted to direct fluid out of the digestion chamber back into the digestion chamber through a flow path that extends, in order, through a submerged outlet port, a pump having an intake port of an intake port diameter, and an inlet port,   wherein and the pump is located below the submerged outlet port in an offset manner and the flow path between outlet port and the pump exhibits a substantially horizontal segment of a length that is at least about 20 times the intake port diameter.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the length of the substantially horizontal segment is at least about 50 times the intake port diameter. 
     
     
         17 . A digestion apparatus, comprising:
 a vessel having a digestion chamber that exhibits a tapered lower portion and having an upper opening that provides access to the digestion chamber;   a closure adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber; and   a fluid-transporting system adapted to direct fluid out of the digestion chamber back into the digestion chamber through a flow path that extends, in order, through a submerged outlet port at the tapered base, a pump, a conduit and an inlet port,   wherein the fluid-transporting system defines a flow path from the outlet port to the pump in a manner that ensures substantially steady pressure for fluid emerging from the pump.   
     
     
         18 . The digestion apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the tapered lower section has a substantially conical geometry. 
     
     
         19 . The digestion apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the tapered lower section has a substantially hemispherical geometry. 
     
     
         20 . A digestion apparatus, comprising:
 a vessel having a digestion chamber therein and an opening that provides access to the digestion chamber;   a closure adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber;   a fluid-transporting system adapted to direct fluid out of the digestion chamber past a heater through an inlet port into the chamber; and   a rinse line in fluid communication with the inlet port via a check valve.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a means for distributing fluid located downstream from the inlet port. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the means for distributing fluid comprises a fluid-conveying member having a plurality of perforation through which fluid may flow. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid-conveying member comprises a tube having a lumen extending from an open proximal terminus attached to the port to a closed distal terminus and the perforations fluidly communicates with the lumen. 
     
     
         24 . A digestion apparatus, comprising:
 a vessel having a digestion chamber therein and an opening that provides access to the digestion chamber;   a closure adapted to interface with the vessel opening to form a fluid-tight seal against a digestion pressure and temperature within the chamber;   a fluid-transporting system adapted to direct fluid out of the digestion chamber past a heater through an inlet port into the chamber;   a first temperature sensor that monitors vapor temperature in the chamber at or near the closure; and   a second temperature sensor that monitors fluid temperature within the fluid-transportation system and/or in a submerged portion of the chamber.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a signal generator that generates a detectable signal when the first temperature sensor detects a vapor temperature that exceeds a fluid temperature detected by the second temperature.