Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for propagating microorganisms such as yeast using a carbon source that includes glycerol and a nutrient source that includes a stillage component.

Abstract: Vegetable oil compositions, as an example, corn oil, having an elevated lower alkyl ester content above about 7% weight percent of the total weight of the oil composition, and uses thereof are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to using high oil corn to make a biochemical such as ethanol. More particularly, the invention relates to methods of making a biochemical using relatively low temperature saccharification followed by fermentation or simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of high oil corn.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of propagating a microorganism on a stillage composition. The methods involve growing microorganisms in a propagation medium formed from a polysaccharide-containing stillage composition with the majority of the of the polysaccharides in the propagation medium coming from the stillage composition. The propagation medium also includes cellulases and/or amylases to form monosaccharides from the polysaccharides. A first cell mass is grown in the propagation medium to form a second cell mass which is greater than the first cell mass.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates methods and systems for refining grain oil compositions using water, and related compositions produced therefrom. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using said compositions. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using grain oil derived from a fermentation product in an anti-foam composition.

Abstract: Methods and systems for isolating a high purity starch stream are provided. The methods provide an initial treatment step in advance of traditional grinding or fractionation operations (such as dry milling or wet milling operations) that facilitate separation of starch from other components of starch-based grains, for example facilitate separation of soft endosperm from other components of corn kernels including hard endosperm. The systems include a first treatment system for separating a high purity starch stream from other components of the grain stream, wherein the system can be configured as a bolt on for traditional milling operations such as wet milling and dry milling operations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure involve systems and methods that inhibit the production of lactic acid during propagation of yeast and/or during hydrolysis of cellulose by including a sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen.

Abstract: Methods and systems for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are disclosed. An acid solution between 1% to 1.6% sulfuric acid is applied to the biomass. The biomass is subjected to an elevated temperature to cause the production of xylose, glucose, and furfural. Adjustments to temperature, acid concentration, and time can generate at least 80% or 90% of theoretical xylose, 45% or 50% of the theoretical glucose, and less than 4000 ppm of furfural in the xylose liquor. A portion of the resulting xylose liquor may be separated from the glucan solids. The xylose liquor, still highly acidic, can be recycled to reduce subsequent acid loading requirements. Makeup acid solution is added to the xylose liquor and subsequent biomass to ensure a proper solids to liquids ratio. The biomass is again treated to higher temperatures to yield sugars. The process may be repeated for each subsequent cycle.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to refining one or more grain oil composition streams (e.g., distillers corn oil or syrup) in a biorefinery to provide one or more refined grain oil products, where each grain oil product has targeted amounts of a free fatty acid component and the fatty acid alkyl ester component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plant fiber processes (e.g., washing, drying, and/or grinding) that utilize recycle and/or make-up streams to use water resources efficiently and/or produce intermediate and/or final products with desired properties.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of making a fertilizer composition from pretreated biomass by removing one or more inorganic nutrients from a fermentation beer to form an aqueous fertilizer composition. The present disclosure also includes systems configured to make a fertilizer composition from pretreated biomass, where the systems include one or more apparatuses in fluid communication with a fermentation vessel, wherein at least one apparatus is configured to remove one or more inorganic nutrients from the fermentation beer to form an aqueous fertilizer composition.

Abstract: Methods to prepare vegetable oil compositions having an elevated ethyl ester content are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for recovering oil from processed plant materials and by-products formed during a milling process used for producing ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to oil compositions and methods of producing such oil compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil composition recovered from a fermentation product as well as methods of recovering such oil compositions for use in various processes such as bio-diesel production as well as in various edible applications.

Abstract: A system for treating biomass for the production of ethanol is disclosed. A biorefinery for producing a fermentation product from biomass is disclosed. The biorefinery comprises a system for preparing the biomass into prepared biomass and a system for pre-treating the biomass into pre-treated biomass. The biorefinery comprises a separator, a first treatment system, a second treatment system, and a fermentation system. A method for producing a fermentation product from biomass is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to oil compositions and methods of producing such oil compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil composition recovered from a fermentation product as well as methods of recovering such oil compositions for use in various processes such as bio-diesel production as well as in various edible applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic feedstock that include grinding lignocellulosic feedstock to provide ground lignocellulosic feedstock; and compressing at least a portion of the ground lignocellulosic feedstock to form at least one discrete unit. In some embodiments, a plurality of discrete units have a bulk density in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot. The present disclosure also includes related systems.

Abstract: A system for the production of ethanol is disclosed. The system comprises a system for recycling water in an ethanol production process. The system may comprise: a water supply that supplies water to the ethanol production process, a cooling tower system that supplies water to the ethanol production process, and a treatment system that supplies water to the ethanol production process. The treatment system may be a reverse osmosis system that supplies a retentate stream to the ethanol production process.

Abstract: Methods and system for producing a slip stream of sugar, for example for use in the production of one or more chemicals, in ethanol fermentation facilities. In some embodiments, the methods and systems have little to no impact on the level of production of ethanol, despite also producing a slip stream of sugar. The methods and systems can be implemented in dry mill ethanol, wet mill ethanol, and lignocellulosic ethanol fermentation facilities and processes.