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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211648
Title: Effect of Flow Agent Addition on the Physical Properties of DDGS with Varying Moisture Content and Soluble Levels

Author
item GANESAN, V - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item MUTHUKUMARAPPAN, K - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item Rosentrater, Kurt

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2008
Publication Date: 4/1/2008
Citation: Ganesan, V., Muthukumarappan, K., Rosentrater, K.A. 2008. Effect of Flow Agent Addition on the Physical Properties of DDGS with Varying Moisture Content and Soluble Levels. Transactions of the ASABE. 51(2):591-601.

Interpretive Summary: Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), a coproduct of the corn-based fuel ethanol industry, is widely used as a animal feed ingredient. With the growth in the ethanol industry in the past several years, large quantities of distillers grains are now being produced. To effectively utilize DDGS as feed, these coproduct streams must be transported greater distances in order to reach livestock operations throughout the country, and must be stored in various structures until final use. DDGS flow can be problematic, as it often cakes and bridges during storage and transport, and thus cannot be unloaded. This issue may arise from a number of factors, including storage moisture, temperature, relative humidity, particle size, time, or temperature. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of various moisture content levels (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% db) and calcium carbonate levels (0, 1, and 2% wb), which is a common flow agent, on the resulting physical and flow properties (Carr Indices) of DDGS with varying soluble levels (10, 15, 20, and 25% db). Results showed that DDGS did have some flow issues with increased soluble and moisture content levels, and sometimes the DDGS even required vibration for bridge-breaking measures. Flow agent addition was not found to have significant effects in improving the flow properties, however. This may have been due to no surface affinity between DDGS and the flow agent particles, or too little inclusion of the flow agent.

Technical Abstract: Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is widely recognized as a highly nutritious animal feed ingredient. With the exponential growth of the fuel ethanol industry in the past several years, significant quantities of distillers grains are now being produced. To effectively utilize these feeds in the domestic market, these coproduct streams have to be transported greater distances, and must be stored in various structures until final use. Unfortunately, DDGS flow is often problematic, as it frequently becomes restricted by caking and bridging during storage and transport. This issue may arise from a number of factors, including storage moisture, temperature, relative humidity, particle size, time, or temperature variations. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of various moisture content levels (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% db) and calcium carbonate (a common flow agent) levels (0, 1, and 2% wb) on the resulting physical and flow properties (Carr Indices) of DDGS with varying soluble levels (10, 15, 20, and 25% db). The results showed that DDGS did have some flow issues with increased soluble and moisture content levels, and it sometimes requires vibration for bridge-breaking measures. Flow agent (CaCO3) addition did not have a significant effect in improving the flow properties of DDGS. This may have been due to no surface affinity between DDGS and the flow agent particles, or too little inclusion of the flow agent.