Project Number: 5447-41000-002-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2006
End Date: Mar 31, 2010

Objective:
The thrust of this project is twofold: 1) conduct research that will overcome material handling challenges with distillers grains, and 2) through collaborative efforts with our customers and partners, develop value-added feeds, foods, and industrial materials from these coproducts. Attaining these objectives will provide ethanol processors with new and refined methods for storing and handling distillers grains. Additionally, new market opportunities for these coproducts will be identified and developed. Thus, this project will improve manufacturing economics as well as augment the viability of the fuel ethanol industry.

Approach:
Three specific research activities include: 1) identify, characterize, and quantify specific physical and chemical properties of distillers grains that affect storability and flowability behavior of these coproducts; 2) develop and evaluate improved processes for converting distillers grains into value-added feed materials; 3) develop and evaluate processes for converting distillers grains into value-added industrial and food products.