Value added whole stillage by-products from an ethanol production process
First Claim
1. A process for producing a zein protein containing product comprising:
- a) hydrolyzing and fermenting a carbohydrate containing feedstock to produce an ethanol containing product stream;
b) distilling the ethanol containing product stream to produce an ethanol containing product and a separated whole stillage;
c) filtering the separated whole stillage through an ultrafiltration membrane sized and configured to have a molecular weight cut-off between about 10,000 to about 50,000 molecular weight cut-off to form a zein protein containing retentate and a permeate stream; and
d) drying the zein protein containing retentate to form a zein protein containing product having a water content of less than about 12% by weight.
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Abstract
An improved process for obtaining value added by-products from an ethanol production whole stillage is disclosed wherein the whole stillage is mixed with additives to form a nutrition enriched product stream that is subsequently dried to produce a nutrition enriched product having a water content of less than 12% by weight. In a preferred embodiment the whole stillage is obtained from a ethanol production process that has utilized a corn flour as the starting feedstock. The corn flour is then hydrolyzed along with added vitamins and/or nutrients and/or enzymes. The hydrolyzed product is then preferably mixed with a soy hull flour, also preferably having a median particle size of less than about 100 microns, and subjected to conventional fermentation conditions to produce an ethanol containing product. The ethanol-containing product is then distilled to produce an ethanol enriched steam and the separate whole stillage to be used as the feedstock.
21 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A process for producing a zein protein containing product comprising:
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a) hydrolyzing and fermenting a carbohydrate containing feedstock to produce an ethanol containing product stream; b) distilling the ethanol containing product stream to produce an ethanol containing product and a separated whole stillage; c) filtering the separated whole stillage through an ultrafiltration membrane sized and configured to have a molecular weight cut-off between about 10,000 to about 50,000 molecular weight cut-off to form a zein protein containing retentate and a permeate stream; and d) drying the zein protein containing retentate to form a zein protein containing product having a water content of less than about 12% by weight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process for producing a zein protein containing product comprising:
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a) hydrolyzing and fermenting a carbohydrate containing feedstock to produce an ethanol containing product stream; b) distilling the ethanol containing product stream to produce an ethanol containing product and a whole stillage; c) filtering at least part of the whole stillage through an ultrafiltration membrane sized and configured to have a molecular weight cut-off between about 10,000 to about 50,000 molecular weight cut-off to form a zein protein containing retentate and a permeate stream; and d) drying the zein protein containing retentate to form a zein protein containing product having a water content of less than about 12% by weight. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification