ethanol with edible byproducts developed

[alocispepraluger102]

New Ethanol Process Offers Lower Costs, Environmental Benefits

Filed under: General— Eideard @ 12:30 pm

A Purdue University team led by professor Li-fu Chen and research assistant Qin Xu, both from the Purdue food science department, discovered a new method to create ethanol from corn. The method also produces biodegradable byproducts that could be safely eaten.

“Our process, which we are calling the Chen-Xu Method, not only makes ethanol, but products that are fit for human consumption,” Chen said. “This process also produces corn oil, corn fiber, gluten and zein, which is a protein that can be used in the manufacture of plastics so that the containers are good for the environment because they are biodegradable and easily decompose.

The Chen-Xu Method produces about 2.85 gallons of ethanol for every bushel of corn processed. That output is slightly higher than current methods, but the same process that creates the ethanol also creates other marketable products. Chen said the method also meets federal Clean Air Act standards, eliminating costs that other methods incur in meeting environmental regulations.

“One of the common methods of manufacturing ethanol, called dry milling, is often the cause of air pollutants by drying and storage of DDG, a byproduct of the process,” Chen said. “Another method - wet milling - produces an odor because it requires the input of sulfur dioxide. The Chen-Xu Method eliminates both issues, and the only odor comes from the smell of the corn and yeast fermentation.”

Using a machine originally designed to make plastics, the Chen-Xu Method grinds corn kernels and liquefies starch with high temperatures. The water input required by wet milling is reduced by 90 percent, Chen said. Wastewater output is cut by 95 percent, and electricity use is reduced by 47 percent.

“The total operating cost of a Chen-Xu Method ethanol plant should be much less than that of a wet-milling plant, and total equipment investment is less than half,” Chen said. “And with proper planning and management, total equipment investment should be less than that of a dry-milling plant.”

Should we send a copy of this to the Saudi oil minister?

[Chuck Nessa]

Should we send a copy of this to the Saudi oil minister?

Only if you know the current market price for a bushel of corn and the amount of US government subsidies used to generate this bushel/price.

[alocispepraluger102]

Should we send a copy of this to the Saudi oil minister?

Only if you know the current market price for a bushel of corn and the amount of US government subsidies used to generate this bushel/price.

could you find us an article about this for us noniowans?

[GA Russell]

Reminds me of homebrewing.

I wonder if one day many people will make their own fuel in their backyard.

[alocispepraluger102]

Reminds me of homebrewing.

I wonder if one day many people will make their own fuel in their backyard.

will be illegal.................