Farm Blog Finals Week
Corn
biomass is the primary source to produce corn ethanol. The process of corn
ethanol production consists of two stages: fermentation of ethanol and its
distillation. Corn ethanol is one of the major sources of ethanol fuel in the
U.S. since about 40.5% of American croplands seeded with corn are utilized for
ethanol production. Corn ethanol can be produced in two ways that differ from
each other based on the initial method of treating grain and co-products: wet
milling and dry milling.
(Bevill,K.)
Wet milling
suggests the separation of the corn grain into components by drenching or
steeping it in the diluted sulfuric acid for up to 48 hours. After that, the
mix goes through several grinders to ensure effective separation of the corn
germ. Then, segregation of starch, gluten, and fiber is completed with the
application of centrifugal and hydrochloric separators and screen. The
remainders of starch and water are fermented into ethanol by adding yeast to
make carbon dioxide and ethanol from the fermented sugars. Then, the starch is
dried and processed to produce corn syrup or sold in the market as modified
corn starch. The livestock industry purchases another byproduct of wet milling
– a corn gluten meal, which is a dried combination of the steeping liquor and
gluten protein. Such byproducts as corn oil and heavy steep water are also
sold.
Dry milling
is the major technique of corn ethanol production in the U.S., reaching up to
805 of all manufacturing. The process of dry milling suggests grounding the
whole corn kernel into mash (flour). Then, some water is added to ensure
slurring. The starch is hydrolyzed by enriching the mash with enzymes. The pH
and yeast are controlled by the added ammonia, after what that combination
undergoes a procedure for bacteria level reduction – the high-temperature
processing. Fermentation and cooling of the mash is completed by adding yeast
for the promotion of yeast activity for next 50 hours. Fuel ethanol is obtained
after purification through dehydration and distillation.
Bevill, K.
(2011, April 15). [Production of Ethanol]. Retrieved April 23, 2019, from http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/7680/commercial-conversion
“U.S. Energy
Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” U.S.
Fuel Ethanol Production Continues to Grow in 2017 - Today in Energy - U.S.
Energy Information Administration (EIA),
