Bioethanol production process may be improved by new technologies

GreenShift Corporation has developed new techniques for enhancing biofuel yield and increasing producers revenue. Bioethanol fuel is usually obtained by fermenting sugar from different feedstock - corn, potato, molasses and other biomass. Crude alcohol is then distilled and dehydrated to yield ethanol fuel E100 which can be mixed within gasoline in any blend (E10, E20, E30, E85..). Obviously, fermentation process is quite simple. Under anaerobic conditions, enzymes in yeast convert glucose and sucrose to ethanol. The bigger challenge for scientists is pre-fermentation conversion of the crude corn oil to simple sugar.

GreenShift Corporation recently patented "Method of Processing Ethanol Byproducts and Related Subsystems” U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7.601.858, (titled the ’858 Patent) for the extraction of crude corn oil.
It is a valuable second generation feedstock for use in the production of bioethanol and as a component in the production of biodiesel, thereby enhancing total fuel production from corn.
The crude corn oil is composited by chains of sugars that can be broken down into simple sugars which are fermented. Using a new corn oil extraction technology, GreenShift assures the increasing bioethanol yields by 7%. These benefits correspond to increased ethanol producer income of about $0.12 per gallon of ethanol produced at current market prices, and can be realized for less than 10% of the capital cost of the host ethanol plant. CEO of the company, Kevin Kreisler, explained that: “The issuing of the ‘858 Patent is a significant milestone for GreenShift and its stakeholders. The company has a substantial investment in the development of these important and timely new technologies. We look forward with great anticipation to working with the ethanol industry to press the evolution of corn ethanol forward into enhanced sustainability.” The company’s chief technology officer and co-inventor of its extraction technologies, David Winsness, chief technology officer and co-inventor of of GreenShift’s extraction technologies added: “There aren’t any other technologies that have been developed for corn ethanol producers that begin to approach even a fraction of these results in the entire history of the ethanol industry. While this patent establishes our dominant ownership and technology leadership in corn oil extraction, we have many more patent applications pending that strengthen GreenShift’s position as a leading technology partner in the ethanol industry.”

The company extraction technologies intercepts the syrup during evaporation process and washes the whole stillage in a series of additional centrifuges upstream of the normal centrifugation stage of the ethanol plant.
These extraction technologies have recently been cited by the U.S. EPA in its rule making processes involving the renewable fuels standard.

Every kernel of corn has a fat content of about 3.6%. It corespondents to 3.4 million tons of fat at the 9 billion gallon production level in 2008. That amount passed through the ethanol industry and wasted untouched. Successful patent implementation in bioethanol industry will take duble effect: more bioethanol fuel for cars and more eatable corn for humans.