Methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct and system therefore
AssigneeFluid Quip Technologies, LLC
InventorChie Ying Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
Claims30
A method for producing grain meal from a whole stillage comprising:
- separating a whole stillage byproduct, via a filtration centrifuge, a decanter centrifuge, a pressure screen, or a paddle screen, into an insoluble solids portion and a solubles portion, which includes protein;
- prior to any evaporation step, separating the solubles portion, via a mechanical separation device, into only a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion, wherein the protein portion is not subsequently subjected to an evaporator;
- and
- drying the protein portion to define a grain meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
A system for producing grain meal from a whole stillage, the system comprising:
- a first apparatus that receives a whole stillage byproduct, wherein the first apparatus separates the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a solubles portion, which includes protein;
- and
- a second apparatus that is situated after the first apparatus and prior to any evaporator and that receives the solubles portion from the first apparatus, wherein the second apparatus separates the solubles portion into only a protein portion, which defines a grain meal, and a water soluble solids portion.
A method for producing grain meal from a whole stillage comprising:
- separating a thin stillage portion from a whole stillage byproduct via a first centrifuge;
- prior to any evaporation step, separating the thin stillage portion into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion, which includes oil, via a second centrifuge;
- drying the protein portion via a dryer to define a grain meal product that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis;
- separating oil from the water soluble solids portion via a third centrifuge to provide an oil portion and a remaining water solubles solids portion;
- and
- after oil separation, forming an animal feed product with at least a portion of the remaining water soluble solids portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.