# US 2025/0084124 A1 · Method and system for increasing the yield and/or purity of protein and oil from a grain protein and grain oil recovery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0084124 A1 - Document ID: US20250084124A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/826,563 - Filed: 2024-09-06 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-07 - Assignees: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Neal Jakel; John Kwik; Chris Kempf; Brian Runge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250084124A1 ## CPC - A23K 10/38: from distillers' or brewers' waste - C07K 1/34: by filtration, ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis - A23J 1/005: {from vegetable waste materials} - A23J 1/125: {by treatment involving enzymes or microorganisms (enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins A23J3/34)} - A23J 3/14: Vegetable proteins - A23J 3/18: from wheat - B01D 21/262: {by using a centrifuge} - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - B01D 61/027: {Nanofiltration} - B01D 61/145: {Ultrafiltration} - B01D 61/147: {Microfiltration} - B01D 63/10: Spiral-wound membrane modules - B01D 69/06: Flat membranes - B01D 71/0223: {Group 8, 9 or 10 metals} - B01D 71/06: Organic material - C11B 13/00: Recovery of fats, fatty oils or fatty acids from waste materials - B01D 2317/02: Elements in series - B01D 2317/04: Elements in parallel - A23K: FODDER - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - A23J: PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS; WORKING-UP PROTEINS FOR FOODSTUFFS; PHOSPHATIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR FOODSTUFFS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C11B: PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F) ## Abstract An improved dry grind method and system of alcohol and/or biochemical production for increasing the yield and/or purity of protein and/or oil in facilities that produce alcohol (e.g., ethanol) from corn or other cereal grains. In one embodiment, the method includes membrane filtration of a liquid portion from a high protein slurry that has been separated into the liquid portion and a high protein wet cake portion initially derived from a whole stillage byproduct. The liquid portion may be cooled in a heat exchanger to a temperature suitable for a desired membrane filter. Solids, dissolved proteins, and oils are separated by the membrane and concentrated in a retentate stream. Low molecular weight dissolved solids pass through the membrane as permeate. The proteins and oil from the retentate are returned to prior separation equipment that produced the high protein slurry and will be separated by said equipment increasing protein and/or oil yields and/or purity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for increasing protein yield and/or purity from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a biofuel and/or biochemical production process comprising: separating a whole stillage byproduct into a fiber portion and a liquid slurry, which includes initial free oil and protein particles; adding at least a portion of a retentate, which includes residual protein particles and residual free oil, that is received from a later step in the method to the liquid slurry, and separating the liquid slurry into a protein portion, including combined initial and residual protein particles, and a water soluble solids portion, including combined initial and residual free oil, wherein the addition of the retentate increases the overall concentration of protein particles and free oil in the liquid slurry and facilitates separation of a larger concentration of protein particles in the protein portion; thereafter, separately adding a wash water to the separated protein portion followed by dewatering the protein portion to provide a liquid fraction and a protein wet cake fraction, including the combined protein particles; and filtering the liquid fraction to provide a retentate, including residual protein particles and residual free oil, and a permeate, wherein at least a portion of the retentate defines the portion of the retentate received from the later step in the method, and wherein the protein wet cake fraction defines a high protein meal that includes at least 48 wt % protein on a dry basis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising cooling the liquid fraction prior to filtering the liquid fraction to provide the retentate and permeate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the liquid fraction is cooled to a temperature less than 190° F. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising cooling the liquid fraction, via a heat exchanger, prior to filtering the liquid fraction to provide the retentate and permeate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein filtering the liquid fraction to provide a retentate and a permeate includes filtering via a membrane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the membrane is a flat sheet membrane or a spiral wound membrane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the membrane includes a stainless steel sintered filter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the membrane includes a coated polymeric filter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the membrane includes a reverse osmosis filter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein filtering of the liquid fraction is performed multiple times via different membranes arranged in series or parallel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein filtering the liquid fraction to provide a retentate and a permeate includes microfiltering, ultrafiltering, or nanofiltering the liquid fraction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein separating a whole stillage byproduct includes separating a whole stillage byproduct, via filtration, into a fiber portion and a liquid slurry, which includes initial free oil and protein particles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein separating the liquid slurry includes separating the liquid slurry, via weights, into a protein portion, including combined initial and residual protein particles, and a water soluble solids portion, including combined initial and residual free oil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the addition of the retentate facilitates separation of a larger concentration of protein particles in the protein portion and free oil in the water soluble solids portion and further comprising subjecting the separated water soluble solids portion to evaporation via an evaporator followed by separating the combined oil from the water soluble solids portion via an oil recovery centrifuge to provide an oil portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the recovered oil portion includes from about 40 wt % to about 80 wt % of the total grain oil of the grain used in the method. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the grain is corn. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing the permeate as backset in a step earlier in the method. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the biofuel and/or biochemical production process is an alcohol production process. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the high protein meal includes from 48 wt % to 70 wt % protein on a dry basis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising drying the protein wet cake fraction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising adding one or more enzymes and/or other chemicals to the liquid fraction prior to filtering the liquid fraction. ### Claim 22 A method for increasing protein yield and/or purity from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a biofuel and/or biochemical production process comprising: separating a whole stillage byproduct into a fiber portion and a liquid slurry, which includes initial free oil and protein particles; adding at least a portion of a retentate, which includes residual protein particles and residual free oil, that is received from a later step in the method to the liquid slurry, and separating the liquid slurry, via weights, into a protein portion, including combined initial and residual protein particles, and a water soluble solids portion, including combined initial and residual free oil, wherein the addition of the retentate increases the overall concentration of protein particles and free oil in the liquid slurry and facilitates separation of a larger concentration of protein particles in the protein portion; thereafter, separately adding a wash water to the separated protein portion followed by dewatering the protein portion to provide a liquid fraction and a protein wet cake fraction, including the combined protein particles; and cooling the liquid fraction, via a heat exchanger, followed by filtering the cooled liquid fraction, via a membrane, to provide a retentate, including residual protein particles and residual free oil, and a permeate, wherein at least a portion of the retentate defines the portion of the retentate received from the later step in the method, and wherein the protein wet cake fraction defines a high protein meal that includes from 48 wt % to 70 wt % protein on a dry basis. ### Claim 23 A system for increasing protein yield and/or purity from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a biofuel and/or biochemical production process comprising: a first apparatus that receives a whole stillage byproduct produced in a biofuel and/or biochemical production process, wherein the first apparatus separates the whole stillage byproduct into a fiber portion and a liquid slurry, which includes initial free oil and protein particles; a second apparatus that is situated after the first apparatus, the second apparatus receives the liquid slurry from the first apparatus and whereat at least a portion of a retentate, which includes residual protein particles and residual free oil, is added to the liquid slurry from a later apparatus in the system, the second apparatus configured to separate the liquid slurry into a protein portion, including combined initial and residual protein particles, and a water soluble solids portion, including combined initial and residual free oil, wherein the addition of the retentate increases the overall concentration of protein particles and free oil in the liquid slurry and facilitates separation of a larger concentration of protein particles in the protein portion; and a third apparatus that is situated after the second apparatus and that receives the protein portion from the second apparatus and whereat wash water is added to the protein portion, the third apparatus configured to dewater the protein portion to provide a liquid fraction and a protein wet cake fraction, including the combined protein particles; and a filtration device that is situated after the third apparatus and that receives the liquid fraction, the filter device configured to separate the liquid fraction into a retentate, including residual protein particles and residual free oil, and a permeate, wherein at least a portion of the retentate defines the portion of the retentate received at the second apparatus from the later apparatus in the system, and wherein the protein wet cake fraction defines a high protein meal that includes at least 48 wt % protein on a dry basis. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the first apparatus is a pressure screen, the second apparatus is a nozzle centrifuge or a cyclone apparatus, the third apparatus is a centrifuge, and the filtration device is a membrane filtration device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 further comprising a cooling device that is situated after the third apparatus and before the filtration device, the cooling device configured to receive and cool the liquid fraction prior to being subjected to the filtration device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the liquid fraction is cooled by the cooling device to a temperature less than 190° F. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the cooling device is a heat exchanger. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the filtration device is one of a microfiltration device, ultrafiltration device, or a nanofiltration device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the addition of the retentate facilitates separation of a larger concentration of protein particles in the protein portion and free oil in the water soluble solids portion and further comprising an evaporator that is situated after the second apparatus and that is configured to receive and subject the separated water soluble solids portion to evaporation, and an oil recovery centrifuge situated after the evaporator and that is configured to receive and separate the combined oil from the water soluble solids portion to provide an oil portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 further comprising a dryer situated after the third apparatus and configured to receive and dry the protein wet cake fraction. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the filtration device includes multiple filtration devices in a series or parallel arrangement and each configured to separate the liquid fraction into the retentate and permeate. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the filtration device includes a reverse osmosis filter.