USE OF ENZYMES TO REDUCE STEEP TIME, REDUCE S02, IMPROVE PRODUCT YIELD DURING CORN WET MILLING

Recipient Organization
EASTERN REGIONAL RES CENTER
(N/A)
WYNDMOOR,PA 19118

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
(N/A)

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
501	1510	2000	80%
502	1510	2000	10%
511	1510	2000	10%

Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes; 501 - New and Improved Food Processing Technologies; 502 - New and Improved Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn;

Field Of Science
2000 - Chemistry;

Goals / Objectives
To develop a new enzymatic corn wet-milling steeping process that will reduce the steep time, reduce SO2 emissions, lower the capital and operating cost and enhance the quality and yield of products.

Project Methods
Commercially available enzyme preparations will be evaluated using a modified two-step steeping system. Fraction yields will be determined for fiber, starch, germ and gluten. Residual starch remaining in the fiber, residual protein in the starch and the starch pasting properties will also be determined. Reaction conditions will be optimized. The isolation of an endogenous protease from germinating corn will be done using standard purification techniques. The enzyme will be tested using the two-step steeping system and reaction conditions optimized. A one kilogram version of the two-step steeping system will be evaluated and compared to conventional steeping yields. The best performing enzymatic procedures will be tested on a pilot plant scale. The fiber samples will be use in further enzymatic treatment studies to enhance fiber oil and nutraceutical compounds recovery. The accumulated experimental data will be used to develop an engineering economic evaluation of the process modifications (use of enzymes) for a 100,000 bu/day corn wet-milling facility.

Progress 09/30/00 to 09/30/05

Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Additional details of research can be found in the report of the parent project, 1935-41000-070-00D, Enzyme-based Technologies for Milling Grains and Producing Biobased Products and Fuels. This accomplishment aligns with National Program 306 Component 2, New Processes, New Uses, and Value-Added Biobased Products" Problem Area 2c, "New and Improved Processes and Feedstocks". This cooperative agreement is the result of a successful grant proposal submitted by ERRC and University of Illinois to the USDA-CSREES Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. The work being done under this agreement is a joint effort to lower the overall processing costs for wet milling and improve the economics of fuel ethanol through the development of enzymatic processing technology.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a SCA between ARS and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Additional details of research can be found in the report of the parent CRIS, 1935-41000-070- 00D, Enzyme-based Technologies for Milling Grains and Producing Biobased Products and Fuels. During this reporting period, research was also conducted under subordinate CRIS projects, 1935-41000-070-03S (SCA with U of I) and 1935-41000-070-02T (ARS In house project), Enzymatic Corn Wet milling process. This work was conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the University of Illinois, which was initiated on 09/25/00 and will terminate on 09/24/05. This cooperative agreement is the result of a successful grant proposal submitted by ERRC and University of Illinois to the USDA-CSREES Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. The work being done under this agreement is a joint effort to lower the overall processing costs for wet milling and improve the economics of fuel ethanol through the development of enzymatic processing technology. Under this project, a small plant trial (200 Metric Tons per day) of the enzymatic wet milling process (E-Milling) will be done. This process was developed and patented in part under this agreement. The plant trial is scheduled to take place in Malaysia during August 2005.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? D. Progress Report: This report serves to document research conducted under a Trust Fund Cooperative agreement between ARS and CSREES. Additional details can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 1935-41000-059-00D, "Enzyme-Based Technologies for Milling Grains and Producing Biobased Products and Fuels". This cooperative agreement is the result of a successful grant proposal submitted by ERRC and the University of Illinois to the USDA-CSREES Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. The work being done under this agreement is a joint effort to lower the overall processing costs for wet milling and improve the economics of fuel ethanol through the development of enzymatic processing technology. The specific accomplishments related to this project are listed under 1935-41000-059-03S.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications