Abstract: Products produced from distillers corn oil include once refined corn oil product, food grade corn oil product, and free fatty acid product which may be used in a variety of applications. The products have varying specifications for free fatty acid content and moisture content. The applications include food, feed, additives, and manufacture of industrial products.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which includes separating selected solids from a process stream with a selected solids mechanical processor containing a filter to produce a filtrate substantially free of selected solids and a retentate containing recovered selected solids. In one embodiment, the process stream contains an increased amount of liquid is provided to a downstream mechanical processor as compared to a process stream having no selected solids mechanical processor upstream. The selected solids mechanical processor can be a dynamic filtration device or a static separation device. Bio-oil recovery efficiency, quantity, and quality can be improved as a result.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for using a single feedstock of barley to produce a fermented product and a method for filtering a large-particles stream from a liquid stream containing small particles of a process stream using a series of mechanical separation devices to increase yield.

Abstract: A device includes a rotary drum and a fluid conduit. The rotary drum has a horizontal rotation axis and the drum has a sealed inlet end and a sealed outlet end. The drum is configured to receive biomass proximate the inlet end and has a discharge port proximate an outlet end. The fluid conduit is disposed along an inner surface of the drum. The fluid conduit is configured to carry heated fluid and has a coupling external to the drum.

Abstract: A method that includes clarifying a thin stillage product in a mechanical processor to produce a fine suspended solids stream and a clarified thin stillage is provided. The method further includes providing the thin stillage product and the clarified thin stillage, separately or in a combined stream, to one or more evaporators to produce one or more reduced suspended solids streams, each stream having a reduced amount of suspended solids and a lower viscosity as compared to process streams having a comparable total solids content but containing a higher amount of suspended solids. The method can further included further processing of one or more of the reduced suspended solids streams to produce a bio-oil product.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for using a single feedstock of barley to produce a fermented product and a method for filtering a large-particles stream from a liquid stream containing small particles of a process stream using a series of mechanical separation devices to increase yield.

Abstract: A process is disclosed which includes separating selected solids from a process stream with a selected solids mechanical processor containing a filter to produce a filtrate substantially free of selected solids and a retentate containing recovered selected solids. In one embodiment, the process stream contains an increased amount of liquid is provided to a downstream mechanical processor as compared to a process stream having no selected solids mechanical processor upstream. The selected solids mechanical processor can be a dynamic filtration device or a static separation device. Bio-oil recovery efficiency, quantity, and quality can be improved as a result.

Abstract: An emulsion-breaking additive is combined with an emulsion concentrate to yield a reaction product and the emulsion concentrate is produced in a process stream and contains entrapped bio-oil. Subsequent phase separating can be accomplished with gravity separation and/or mechanical processing. The emulsion-breaking additive can be native to the process stream. Related systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: An emulsion-breaking additive is combined with an emulsion concentrate to yield a reaction product and the emulsion concentrate is produced in a process stream and contains entrapped bio-oil. Subsequent phase separating can be accomplished with gravity separation and/or mechanical processing. The emulsion-breaking additive can be native to the process stream. Related systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: An emulsion-breaking additive is combined with an emulsion concentrate to yield a reaction product and the emulsion concentrate is produced in a process stream and contains entrapped bio-oil. Subsequent phase separating can be accomplished with gravity separation and/or mechanical processing. The emulsion-breaking additive can be native to the process stream. Related systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A device includes a rotary drum and a fluid conduit. The rotary drum has a horizontal rotation axis and the drum has a sealed inlet end and a sealed outlet end. The drum is configured to receive biomass proximate the inlet end and has a discharge port proximate an outlet end. The fluid conduit is disposed along an inner surface of the drum. The fluid conduit is configured to carry heated fluid and has a coupling external to the drum.

Abstract: A process for extraction of edible protein from corn germ. The process includes providing a defatted corn germ with a fat concentration of less than about 5% by weight, milling the corn germ to a granulation of less than about 100 US mesh at less than 180° F., preparing a slurry from the milled corn germ, extracting a edible protein solution from the slurry, recovering the edible protein by precipitating agents (ethanol, acids), and drying the edible protein. The resulting food is 80% to 90% protein.

Abstract: A method of preparing a low viscosity slurry that includes grinding a small grain to produce a flour. The flour is mixed with water to form a slurry. An alpha-amylase enzyme and a hemicellulase blend enzyme are mixed into the slurry and allowed to convert the slurry into a mash. A saccharifying enzyme is mixed into the mash. It is possible to use coarse grains such as grain sorghum and maize in conjunction with the small grains.

Abstract: A process arrangement for distilling fuel grade ethanol include a distillation portion which distills beer to produce thin stillage and hot ethanol vapor. In an evaporation portion, a set of first effect evaporators which are heated either by plant steam or hot ethanol vapor, concentrate thin stillage into mid stillage while producing first effect steam. The first effect steam from the first effect evaporators provides heat to a set of second effect evaporators which concentrate the mid stillage into a syrup for further drying. The second effect evaporators produce second effect steam which is used to heat the distillation portion of the process arrangement. The multiple evaporators of the first and second effects of the evaporation portion can be selectively taken off-line for maintenance while the evaporation portion and the remainder of the process arrangement continue to operate at full capacity.

Abstract: An anaerobic wastewater treatment system includes a recycle tank, a bioreactor tank and a bioselector for recapturing anaerobic microbial consortia particles escaping from the bioreactor tank and returning them to the bioreactor tank. The bioreactor tank receives recycled wastewater feed from a recycle tank and discharges via an overflow outlet treated wastewater and microbial consortia particles to a bioselector. The bioselector is adapted to separate entrained microbial consortia particles and return a feed to the bioreactor tank which including some of the treated wastewater received from the bioreactor tank and the microbial consortia particles received from the bioreactor tank. The bioselector provides a recycle feed to the recycle tank. Overflow from the bioselector provides an effluent of treated wastewater leaving the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of liquefying starch-containing material, wherein starch-containing material is subjected to a bacterial alpha-amylase at (a) a temperature around 50-80° C. for 10-180 minutes, followed by (b) treatment at a higher temperature than used in step (a) for 1-60 minutes.

Abstract: A process arrangement for distilling fuel grade ethanol includes a fermentation portion, a distillation portion, a condensation and dehydration portion, a separation and drying portion and an evaporation portion. The fermentation portion produces beer. The distillation portion, the condensation and dehydration portion and the separation and drying portion receives beer from the fermentation portion and produces hot ethanol vapor and thin stillage. In the evaporation portion, a set of first effect evaporators which are heated either by plant steam or hot ethanol vapor, concentrate thin stillage into mid stillage while producing first effect steam. The first effect steam from the first effect evaporators provides heat to a set of second effect evaporators which concentrate the mid stillage into a syrup for further drying. The second effect evaporators produce second effect steam which is used to heat the distillation portion of the process arrangement.

Abstract: The modular waste water treatment system receives waste water from a waste water source containing organic waste and produces a treated water effluent. The modular system includes bioreactors and a bioreactor support module. The bioreactors receive a waste water mixture from the bioreactor support module and produce treated water substantially free of organic waste. The bioreactor support module is a transportable unit fabricated upon a frame adapted for transport by a truck upon a public roadway. The bioreactor support module includes items of equipment needed for conditioning waste water for intake by the bioreactors, items of equipment for receiving, processing and discharging treated water from the bioreactors and may include other items of equipment for receiving and processing other byproducts from the bioreactors. The transportable bioreactor support module is sized to support the operation of between one and preferably as many as six bioractors.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for separating gluten from wheat flour to produce a protein isolate that is at least 90% protein. The method includes at least one emulsification step where the starch within gluten masses is exposed. Masses composed of mostly gluten and some starch from a typical agglomeration tank and screen rinse process are processed through at least one emulsifying step where the masses are chopped and then drawn through a perforated plate to produce relatively small gluten masses. The relatively small gluten masses from the at least one emulsifying step are screen rinsed to remove much of the remaining starch thus producing a protein isolate. The resulting protein isolate gluten product is then dried and processed using conventional methods known in the art.