System and method for extracting materials from biomass

• US 20070110862A9
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biorefining Inc.
• Original Assignee: Biorefining Inc.
• Inventors: Thorre, Doug
• Application Number:
  US11/183,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20060182857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/481
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/005 from vegetable waste materials
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/12 from cereals, wheat, bran, or molasses
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/212 Starch; Modified starch; Starch derivatives, e.g. esters or ethers containing starch hydrolysates, e.g. dextrin, A23L29/30
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/10 Cereal-derived products
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/115 Cereal fibre products, e.g. bran, husk
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 30/042 from cereals or grains
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 30/044 from corn or maize
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0045 alpha-D-Galacturonans, e.g. methyl ester of (alpha-1,4)-linked D-galacturonic acid units, i.e. pectin, or hydrolysis product of methyl ester of alpha-1,4-linked D-galacturonic acid units, i.e. pectinic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0057 beta-D-Xylans, i.e. xylosaccharide, e.g. arabinoxylan, arabinofuronan, pentosans; (beta-1,3)(beta-1,4)-D-Xylans, e.g. rhodymenans; Hemicellulose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 1/00 Macromolecular products derived from proteins food proteins A23; glue, gelatine C09H
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass , e.g. flours, kernels

Abstract

One embodiment described herein includes a method for extracting bran, endosperm, germ, and fiber from biomass comprising hydrating the biomass; extracting the bran from the biomass before extracting the germ; and extracting the endosperm, without a use of chemicals, based on a capacity of endosperm particles to selectively pass through, or be retained on a sieve having a standard hole size, wherein endosperm particles are extracted in one or more endosperm streams. The method also includes products extracted from biomass.

Claims

1. A process for extracting bran, endosperm, germ, and fiber from biomass comprising hydrating the biomass;

extracting the bran from the biomass before extracting the germ; and

extracting the endosperm, without a use of chemicals, based on a capacity of endosperm particles to selectively pass through, or be retained on a sieve having a standard hole size, wherein endosperm particles are extracted in one or more endosperm streams.

2. A bran product made by the process of claim 1.

3. An endosperm product made by the process of claim 1.

4. A germ product made by the process of claim 1.

10. The corn germ product of claim 4 comprising a plurality of corn germ particles which retain their native components without chemical degradation.

11. The corn endosperm product of claim 3 comprising a plurality of particles that include a floury endosperm, a granular endosperm and a hard endosperm.

12. The endosperm product of claim 3 wherein the particles are free from chemical degradation.

13. The endosperm product of claim 3 wherein the particles are free from added chemicals.

14. The endosperm product of claim 3 wherein the plurality of particles comprise starch in a concentration of about 82% to 87% by weight.

15. The endosperm product of claim 3 wherein the plurality of particles are substantially free from bran and germ.

16. The endosperm product of claim 3 wherein the plurality of particles comprise about 95% corn endosperm.

5. A corn bran and fiber product comprising a plurality of dry and fluffy flakes that are stable for months of storage.

6. The corn bran and fiber product of claim 5 wherein the plurality of the dry and fluffy flakes are free from added chemicals.

7. The corn bran and fiber product of claim 5 wherein length of the flakes ranged from about 2 to 10 mm.

8. The corn bran and fiber product of claim 5 wherein the width ranged from about 1 to 7 mm.

9. The corn bran and fiber product of claim 5 wherein the plurality of dry and fluffy flakes are substantially free from sugars or acids from other corn fractions.

17. A modified Distillers Dried Grain product comprising at least about 45 percent protein.

18. The modified Distillers Dried Grain product of claim 17 comprising up to about 75% protein.

19. The modified Distillers Dried Grain product of claim 17 wherein the protein comprises non-prolamines.