New value-added co-products from grain-based ethanol production by a patent-pending recovery method

Authors: Liu, Keshun; Barrows, Frederic

Submitted to: American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2012
Publication Date: 4/29/2012
Citation: Liu, K.S., Barrows, F. 2012. New value-added co-products from grain-based ethanol production by a patent-pending recovery method. Presented at the American Oil Chemists Society Annual and Expo, Long Beach, CA, April 29-May 2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The production of fuel ethanol in the United States and elsewhere is a quickly growing industry. At present, a major co-product of the ethanol industry is corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), the primary use is in the livestock industry. However, DDGS typically has characteristics that limit the inclusion level or value for animal feeds. For example, DDGS is highly variable in composition and contains high levels of phosphorus (P), sulfur (S) and some other minerals. At USDA-ARS, we have developed a novel method to recover co-products from the dry-grind process. The new method not only produces distiller grains with much less variable composition but also gives some new co-products with unique new composition. For examples, an ash-rich fraction (ash content around 30%, dry matter basis) is a good mineral supplement for feed or food, while a modified solubles product has increased protein and reduced fat and ash contents. When both mineral supplement and modified soluble product were fed to rainbow trout, an increase in the digestibility of energy, dry matter, fat, phosphorus, and some essential amino acids was observed. Long term feeding trials on rainbow trout with these products are underway.