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Nutrient recovery from the dry grind process using sequential micro and ultrafiltration of thin stillage
Amit Arora1, Bruce S Dien, Ronald L Belyea
1Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Bioresource Technology
|February 9, 2010
Summary
Microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) effectively recover nutrients from thin stillage. Sequential MF and UF processes concentrate solids to syrup-like levels, enhancing water recycling potential.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Thin stillage, a byproduct of ethanol production, contains valuable nutrients.
- Efficient nutrient recovery from thin stillage is crucial for sustainable bio-refining and waste valorization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) for nutrient recovery from thin stillage.
- To determine the impact of sequential MF and UF on solids concentration and permeate flux.
- To assess protein and fat recovery efficiency using different membranes.
Main Methods:
- Microfiltration with a 0.1 micrometer stainless steel membrane.
- Ultrafiltration using regenerated cellulose membranes (YM1, YM10, YM100) with varying molecular weight cut-offs (1, 10, 100 kDa).
- Sequential MF and UF filtration experiments.
Main Results:
- MF increased solids content from 7.0% to 22.8%, with increased fat and decreased ash.
- UF increased total solids, protein, and fat in the retentate.
- Sequential MF-UF achieved retentate solids concentrations of 23-28.8%, comparable to commercial syrup.
- YM100 membrane showed the highest flux decline (70%), but sequential filtration improved YM100 flux (32.6-73.4 LMH).
- Highest protein recovery was observed with the YM1 membrane retentate.
Conclusions:
- MF and UF are effective for nutrient recovery and concentration from thin stillage.
- Sequential filtration can produce concentrated streams suitable for further processing or as a syrup-like product.
- The permeate stream generated can improve water removal efficiency and facilitate water recycling, contributing to process sustainability.
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