T30
Adding value to corn ethanol production; quantification and recovery of lutein and zeaxanthin from DDGS
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Exhibit/Poster Hall, lower level (Hilton Clearwater Beach)
Lutein and zeaxanthin are plant compounds in the carotenoid family. They are essential for development and maintenance of the retinal macula[1], and have been shown to act as an anti-oxidant to prevent the development of cancer[2]. Currently, the major source for them is marigold flowers; but they must be modified after extraction for use in human body. This research investigated the recovery and purification of lutein and zeaxanthin from Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) that are already biologically active when ingested and are currently underutilized in this biomass stream. DDGS is a byproduct of corn ethanol production and can be used as livestock feed. The US corn industry produced 42.66 million short tons of DDGS in 2011[3], which provides a large untapped source to recover lutein and zeaxanthin. In this research, the compounds were extracted via Soxhlet and verified with High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Further purification was carried out using a centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC), a liquid-liquid countercurrent chromatography technique. This process could add a revenue stream to the biorefinery. Further experimentation will be performed to test for specific biological activity in the body.
[1] Krinsky, N.I., E.J. Johnson. (2005, 26(6)). Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 459-516.
[2] Khachik, F.,G.R. Beecher, and J.C. Smith. (1995). Lutein, Lycopene, and Their Oxidative Metabolites in Chemoprevention of Cancer. Journal of Cellular Biochemis
try, 236-246.
[3] Wisner, R. (2013). Estimated U.S. Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) Production and Use. Agricultural Marketing Resource Center .