Water reclamation and value-added animal feed from corn-ethanol stillage by fungal processing

作者：Rasmussen M L; Kh**** S K; Pometto A L III; van Leeuwen J^*

来源：Bioresource Technology, 2014, 151: 284-290.

DOI：10.1016/j.biortech.2013.10.080

• Thin stillage
• Fungal process
• Animal feed
• Water reuse
• Ethanol

Rhizopus oligosporus was cultivated on thin stillage from a dry-grind corn ethanol plant. The aim of the research was to develop a process to replace the current energy-intensive flash evaporation and make use of this nutrient-rich stream to create a new co-product in the form of protein-rich biomass. Batch experiments in 5- and 50-L stirred bioreactors showed prolific fungal growth under non-sterile conditions. COD, suspended solids, glycerol, and organic acids removals, critical for in-plant water reuse, reached ca. 80%, 98%, 100% and 100%, respectively, within 5 d of fungal inoculation, enabling effluent recycle as process water. R. oligosporus contains 2% lysine, good levels of other essential amino acids, and 43% crude protein - a highly nutritious livestock feed. Avoiding water evaporation from thin stillage would furthermore save substantial energy inputs on corn ethanol plants.

• 出版日期2014-1