Methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct
AssigneeFluid-Quip, Inc.
InventorChie Ying Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims26
A method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct comprising:
- in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct, via constituent particle sizes, into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion, which includes protein;
- separating the thin stillage portion, via constituent weights, into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion, which is lighter than the protein portion;
- dewatering the protein portion;
- and
- drying the dewatered protein portion to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
A method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct comprising:
- in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, subjecting the whole stillage byproduct to a filtration centrifuge, a decanter centrifuge, a pressure screen, or a paddle screen to separate the whole stillage, via constituent particle sizes, into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion, which includes protein;
- subjecting the thin stillage to a nozzle centrifuge or a cyclone apparatus to separate the thin stillage portion, via constituent weights, into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion, which is lighter than the protein portion;
- subjecting the protein portion to a decanter centrifuge to dewater the protein portion;
- and
- drying the dewatered protein portion to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.