Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212361
Title: Dynamic Water Adsorption Characteristics of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)

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

Submitted to: Cereal Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/6/2007
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Citation: Ganesan, V., Rosentrater, K.A., Muthukumarappan, K. 2007. Dynamic Water Adsorption Characteristics of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS). Cereal Chemistry. 84:548-555.

Interpretive Summary: Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is the primary coproduct from the modern corn dry grind ethanol manufacturing industry. This industry is growing exponentially, and in parallel, the production of DDGS has been substantially increasing as well. In fact, the economics of utilization by livestock vis-à-vis ethanol production facilities has necessitated the need to ship DDGS to various destinations outside the corn belt. But DDGS can often have flow problems, which often hinders DDGS storage and transportation. The objective of this study was to investigate dynamic water adsorption of DDGS using four soluble levels at four temperatures and four relative humidities. Three mathematical models were used to fit the adsorption data (Peleg, Pilosof, and Singh-Kulshrestha). As there is currently no model available for describing the water adsorption characteristics of DDGS that accomodates varying soluble levels at various temperature and relative humidity conditions, a new comprehensive model was developed. The new model, termed the “GRM” (Ganesan-Rosentrater-Muthu) model, encompassed soluble levels, temperatures, and relative humidities, along with time and moisture content. The GRM model (R2=0.94; F=16503.90) provided a good description of DDGS water adsorption behavior, and can be used to predict the dynamic adsorption of water in DDGS for a broad range of storage conditions.

Technical Abstract: Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is one of the coproducts obtained from dry grind ethanol manufacturing. As the ethanol industry is growing exponentially, the production of DDGS has been significantly increasing as well. To optimize the use of DDGS, it has to be economically transported from one part of the country to other parts, and stored efficiently. But DDGS has some flow issues, which often makes the storage and transportation very problematic. So, the objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic water adsorption characteristics of DDGS with four soluble levels at four temperatures and four relative humidities. Three mathematical models were used to fit the adsorption data (Peleg, Pilosof, and Singh-Kulshrestha). As there was no model available for describing the water adsorption characteristics of DDGS with varying soluble levels at various temperature and relative humidity conditions, a new comprehensive model was developed. The new model, termed the “GRM” (Ganesan-Rosentrater-Muthu) model, encompassed soluble level, temperature, and relative humidity effects, along with time and moisture content. The GRM model (R2=0.94; F=16503.90) provided a good description of DDGS water adsorption behavior, and can be used to predict the dynamic adsorption of water in DDGS for a broad range of storage conditions.