Improving Ethanol Production Efficiency: Optimization of Corn-Based Feedstock Energy Conversions

1
Improving Ethanol Production Efficiency
Optimization of Corn-Based Feedstock Energy
Conversions

• Project Progress as of 01st Oct. 2007
• Project No. 06-102
• Principal Investigator
• Dr. David S. Jackson
• Dept. Food Science and Technology, UNL.

2
Progress during the last year

• Development of standard yeast fermentation
  methods for starch and corn
• Evaluation of different yeast types to determine
  which produce the most ethanol
• Improvement of traditional corn fermentation
  methods
• Corn dry milling and fractionation studies to
  improve fermentation processes
• Four publications (posters) at two professional
  meetings

3
Graduate student Manjusha Kasinadhunis poster
presented at 2007 AACC International Annual
Meeting, San Antonio, TX. Oct. 7-10.
4
Graduate Student Matthew Dickeys poster
presented at 2007 AACC International Annual
Meeting, San Antonio, TX. Oct. 7-10.
5
Current Research Activities

• Determining how the initial activity (health) of
  yeast can be improved just prior to fermentation.
• Optimization of corn dry fractionation (using
  milling equipment acquired from USDA/ARS).
• Determining the best mixture of corn bran, germ,
  and endosperm (starch), obtained from dry
  fractionation, necessary to maximize ethanol
  production while minimizing the amount of bran
  and germ that is used in the fermentation.
• Preparing DDGs from the mixtures above for
  analysis as animal feed components.