Method and system for increasing oil yield from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn drymilling process

A method for increasing oil yield from a whole stillage comprising:

• separating a whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion, which includes free oil and protein;
• separating out a lighter water soluble solids portion, which includes the oil, from heavier constituents, including the protein, in the thin stillage portion, via weights;
• subjecting the separated water soluble solids portion to evaporation via at least one first evaporator;
• after the evaporation, separating the oil from the water soluble solids portion via an oil recovery centrifuge to provide an oil portion;
• returning at least a portion of the separated oil portion to the whole stillage byproduct, the water soluble solids portion prior to the evaporation, or the water soluble solids portion after evaporation;
• subjecting the portion of the separated oil portion to an oil treatment step prior to or after returning the portion of the separated oil portion to the whole stillage byproduct, the water soluble solids portion prior to evaporation, or the water soluble solids portion after the evaporation, whereby oil bound in an oil-in-water emulsion in the portion of the separated oil can be freed;
• and
• thereafter, recovering freed oil via the oil recovery centrifuge.