Zein composition and methods of production

• US 8,795,760 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Poet Research Inc.
• Original Assignee: Poet Research Inc.
• Inventors: Lawton, John Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GWARTNEY, ELIZABETH A
• Application Number:
  US12/965,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 426/656
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/425 Zeins
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A high cysteine content zein composition is provided. A method and system for the manufacture of the bioproduct is likewise disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A zein composition comprising beta-zein and gamma-zein in a combined percentage of from about 25 percent to about 60 percent by weight of zein within the zein composition by dry weight.

2. The zein composition of claim 1, wherein the average cysteine amino acid residues per zein protein molecule in the composition is 4 or greater.

3. The zein composition of claim 1, wherein the zein composition comprises by dry weight basis:

a protein component of at least 70 percent by weight of the zein composition, wherein the protein component substantially comprises zein; and

a fat component of no more than 10 percent by weight of the zein composition.

4. The zein composition of claim 1, wherein the zein composition is produced from a fermentation product produced from a feedstock in a biorefining system.

5. The zein composition of claim 4, wherein the zein composition is produced from a fermentation product produced from a feedstock in a biorefining system comprising the steps of:

processing the feedstock into a starch containing component;

preparing the starch containing component into a fermentable component for fermentation;

fermenting at least a portion of the fermentable component into the fermentation product;

producing the zein composition from the fermentation product.

6. The zein composition claim 5, wherein the fermentation product comprises beer and the zein composition is extracted from the beer.

7. The zein composition of claim 5, wherein the fermentation product comprises ethanol and stillage, and further wherein the stillage comprises wet cake.

8. The zein composition of claim 5, wherein the biorefining system comprises a distillation system to which the fermentation product is supplied and the step of extracting the zein composition is conducted after the fermentation product has been supplied to the distillation system.

9. The zein composition of claim 8, wherein the step of producing the zein composition comprises the step of applying a solvent composition to the fermentation product and solids in the fermentation product are separated using the solvent composition.

10. The zein composition of claim 9, wherein the fermentation product comprises fermentation solids and the step of producing the zein composition further comprises:

milling the fermentation solids;

supplying the milled fermentation solids to a first vessel;

treating the milled fermentation solids with a first solvent composition in the first vessel;

separating a first batch of dissolved solids in the fermentation product with the first solvent composition;

supplying the fermentation solids to a second vessel;

treating the fermentation solids with a second solvent composition in the second vessel, wherein the second solvent composition includes an extraction agent; and

separating a second batch of dissolved solids in the fermentation product with the second solvent composition.

11. The zein composition of claim 10, wherein the fermentation solids comprise meal.

12. The zein composition of claim 10, wherein the fermentation solids comprise dried distillers grains.

13. The zein composition of claim 5, wherein the feedstock is corn and the step of processing the feedstock comprises fractionating the corn into endosperm, germ and fiber and the starch containing component comprises endosperm substantially free of germ and fiber.

14. The zein composition of claim 5, wherein the step of preparing the starch containing component into the fermentable component comprises liquefaction.

15. The zein composition of claim 5, wherein the step of preparing the starch containing component into a fermentable component comprises raw starch hydrolysis.

16. The zein composition of claim 10, wherein the extraction agent comprises an acid.

17. The zein composition of claim 10, wherein the extraction agent comprises an alkali.

18. The zein composition of claim 17, wherein the extraction agent comprises sodium hydroxide.

19. The zein composition of claim 10, wherein the extraction agent comprises a sulfite.

20. The zein composition of claim 9, wherein the extraction agent comprises sodium metabisulfite.

21. The zein composition of claim 17, wherein the extraction agent comprises potassium hydroxide.

22. The zein composition of claim 10, wherein the extraction agent comprises thiol.

23. The zein composition of claim 22, wherein the extraction agent comprises 2-mercaptoethanol.

24. The zein composition of claim 5, further comprising the step of drying the zein composition and wherein the zein composition has been produced without raising the temperature of the zein composition above about 130°

C.

25. A zein composition comprising beta-zein and gamma-zein in a combined percentage of from about 25 percent to about 60 percent by weight of zein within the zein composition by dry weight, wherein the zein composition comprises alpha zein in a percentage of no more than 80 percent by weight of zein within the zein composition by dry weight.