Abstract: A stillage clarification process and related system include using hydrocyclones and high recovery disc centrifuges for fractionation of stillage from a grain ethanol plant and splitting the stillage into fractions with mass and compositional assays per bushel of grain processed. The fractions include a first fraction comprising 45% to 70% protein and 3% to 8% fat, a second fraction comprising distillers corn oil, a third fraction comprising a fiber having made up of approximately 22% to 28% protein and less than 8% fat, and a fourth fraction comprising at least 30% soluble protein and less than 3% fat.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for fractionating whole stillage using one or more hydrocyclones and optional screening device. Aspects of the present disclosure include a stillage fractionation and/or clarification system for carrying out the methods described herein.

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: 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: A decorative valance structure for a vertical blind assembly is disclosed. The longitudinally extending portion and the return portions of the valance structure are cut to the desired length from a PVC extrusion. Corner members are utilized to join the opposite ends of the longitudinally extending portions to the return portions. A flexible extrusion is attached to the top edge and the bottom edge of the valance structure and a section of vertical blind material is received between the flexible extrusions so as to cover the valance structure. The vertical blind material utilized to cover the valance structure “matches” the material for the vertical blind assembly providing a decorative appearance to the valance structure.

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.