Process for making fermentable sugars and high-protein products
First Claim
1. A process for obtaining from carbohydrate-bearing grain high yields of soluble carbohydrates, a protein fraction essentially free of carbohydrates, and ethanol which comprises, in combination, the steps of:
- (a) steeping said grain in water for a period of time sufficient only to toughen the hull and germ thereof to facilitate subsequent separation and to form a steepwater;
(b) separating said steepwater from said grain and concentrating said steepwater to produce feedstuff.(c) degerminating said grain and recovering germ containing oil and minimum amounts of starch and protein leaving a magma containing 75 to 80% by weight of water including minerals, proteins and carbohydrates and insolubles including starch, protein, fiber and fatty materials;
(d) forming a slurry of said magma resulting from step (c) with water;
(e) saccharifying the carbohydrates from said carbohydrate material to produce a sugar solution containing sugars, other water-soluble compounds and suspended coarse and fine insoluble materials;
(f) removing the coarse insolubles from said sugar solution;
(g) removing, washing and drying the fine insolubles comprising principally protein from said sugar solution;
(h) cooling and adding yeast to said sugar solution and fermenting same to produce ethanol;
(i) recovering at least a portion of said yeast from said fermented material in (h) and recycling same for further fermentation;
(j) distilling ethanol from the fermented material;
(k) recycling water remaining after distillation to said solution and to wash said protein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a dry or wet milling process for making fermentable sugars and high-protein products from starch bearing material, characterized by saccharification of the starch followed by recovery of fiber and other non-protein materials and of destarched protein as separate products, leaving a sugar solution that is essentially free of insoluble materials. The sugars are fermented to ethanol and carbon dioxide by the action of added yeast. After fermentation, the yeast is recovered for use in fermenting additional quantities of sugars supplied either for batch or continuous processing. The alcohol is then removed leaving a dilute solution of unfermentable soluble materials, and this liquid, in whole or in part, is recycled to preceding steps in the process.
119 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A process for obtaining from carbohydrate-bearing grain high yields of soluble carbohydrates, a protein fraction essentially free of carbohydrates, and ethanol which comprises, in combination, the steps of:
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(a) steeping said grain in water for a period of time sufficient only to toughen the hull and germ thereof to facilitate subsequent separation and to form a steepwater; (b) separating said steepwater from said grain and concentrating said steepwater to produce feedstuff. (c) degerminating said grain and recovering germ containing oil and minimum amounts of starch and protein leaving a magma containing 75 to 80% by weight of water including minerals, proteins and carbohydrates and insolubles including starch, protein, fiber and fatty materials; (d) forming a slurry of said magma resulting from step (c) with water; (e) saccharifying the carbohydrates from said carbohydrate material to produce a sugar solution containing sugars, other water-soluble compounds and suspended coarse and fine insoluble materials; (f) removing the coarse insolubles from said sugar solution; (g) removing, washing and drying the fine insolubles comprising principally protein from said sugar solution; (h) cooling and adding yeast to said sugar solution and fermenting same to produce ethanol; (i) recovering at least a portion of said yeast from said fermented material in (h) and recycling same for further fermentation; (j) distilling ethanol from the fermented material; (k) recycling water remaining after distillation to said solution and to wash said protein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification