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Recovering high value‐added substances from corn distillers dried grains with solubles: a semi‐continuous countercurrent downstream processing method
Author(s) -
Gu Jiahui,
Xin Zhong,
Meng Xin,
Sun Shuzhen,
Qiao Qingan,
Deng Hongbo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4726
Subject(s) - chemistry , distillers grains , raw material , extraction (chemistry) , food science , yield (engineering) , pulp and paper industry , chromatography , organic chemistry , materials science , engineering , metallurgy
BACKGROUND Recovering high value‐added substances (oil, zein and carotenoids) from corn distillers dried grains with solubles ( DDGS ), the major coproduct of bioethanol, is important to enhance the profit of the corn ethanol process. Currently, few studies have been reported on separating high value‐added substances in a process suitable for industrialization. In this article, a semi‐continuous countercurrent extraction method was investigated to refine the corn DDGS . RESULTS First, an oil yield as high as 94.5% (based on oil content in DDGS ) was measured using a series of five packed columns. Second, the DDGS residues after oil extraction were used for zein extraction, obtaining a zein yield of 24.5% (based on protein content in DDGS ) with a series of four packed columns. Moreover, the carotenoids in zein were extracted by anhydrous ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. The extractives, which accounted for 17% of the original mass of zein, had a carotenoids content of 2.4 mg g −1 . Finally, zein was decolored by hydrogen peroxide to form a whiter product. CONCLUSIONS The semi‐continuous countercurrent method was developed successfully to refine the corn DDGS . The corn oil with high acid value was a perfect feedstock for biodiesel. The zein obtained achieved the quality of a commercial product. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry