Monday, May 5, 2008
9-24
Options for obtaining value from proteins during ethanol production from distiller's grains
Bryan Bals1, Ben Brehmer2, Bruce E. Dale1, Venkatesh Balan1, and Johan Sanders2. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Michigan State University, 2527 Engineering building, East Lansing, MI 48824, (2) Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
As the ethanol industry begins to transition from solely starch-based ethanol to including cellulosic biomass, distiller's grains (DGs), the byproduct produced in a conventional dry mill ethanol plant, make an attractive feedstock. Distiller's grains are already present at an ethanol facility, thus eliminating the costs and logistics of transporting the material, and can be integrated into the existing dry mill plant with a modest capital investment. Furthermore, the cellulose in DGs is relatively easy to hydrolyze, allowing for mild pretreatment conditions and high ethanol yields. Currently, DGs are sold primarily as a low-cost protein feed for ruminant animals. It is believed that by removing the fiber for use in ethanol production, the market can be further expanded into non-ruminant markets.
However, the relatively high lipid content and lysine deficiency of DGs may reduce their overall value. This research is focused on identifying various options for obtaining value from the proteins in DGs. Options considered are a modified DG with less fiber and lipid content, a protein meal produced through aqueous extraction and subsequent concentration, and amino acids through protease extraction for use as precursors for bioplastics production. These options will be integrated with ethanol production from enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of the fiber in DGs pretreated using Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX), as well as the possibility of a concentrated lipid stream for use as a biodiesel precursor.
However, the relatively high lipid content and lysine deficiency of DGs may reduce their overall value. This research is focused on identifying various options for obtaining value from the proteins in DGs. Options considered are a modified DG with less fiber and lipid content, a protein meal produced through aqueous extraction and subsequent concentration, and amino acids through protease extraction for use as precursors for bioplastics production. These options will be integrated with ethanol production from enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of the fiber in DGs pretreated using Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX), as well as the possibility of a concentrated lipid stream for use as a biodiesel precursor.
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See more of The 30th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (May 4 -- 7, 2008)