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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261125

Title: Variation in Distillers Grains Quality and Investigation into Its Underlying Causes

Author
item Liu, Keshun

Submitted to: American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2011
Publication Date: 5/1/2011
Citation: Liu, K.S. 2011. Variation in Distillers Grains Quality and Investigation into Its Underlying Causes. Presented at American Oil Chemists Society Annual Meeting and Expo, Cincinnati, OH, May 1-4, 2011.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A major process for making ethanol from grains is the dry-grind method. The major co-product of the process is distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), which are widely used as a feed for animals and fish. Income from marketing of DDGS is important to the economic viability of the dry grind industry. Factors that affect quality or marketability of DDGS can impact its market value and end uses. It is well known to ethanol and feed industries and the scientific community that there is a great variation in physical properties and chemical composition among DDGS sources, even among batches of the same processing plant. This variation itself affects the marketability and end use of DDGS. For example, variation in protein content of DDGS can cause faulty formulation of feeds and thus affect animal productivity. This presentation discusses various possible causes for variation in DDGS quality based on limited studies conducted at the author’s laboratory and elsewhere. These causes include effects of raw material, processing methods, treatments before, during and after the process, fermentation yeast, and analytical methodology. Such information can help us develop strategies to control quality variation, maximize balance of nutrients, and thus improve value-added utilization of DDGS. Keywords: DDGS, ethanol production, dry grind, quality, co-product