Green Plains. has been granted a patent for a method to produce high-protein corn meal from whole stillage byproducts of corn dry-milling used in ethanol production. The process involves separating stillage into various components, ultimately yielding a corn meal with at least 40% protein content. GlobalData’s report on Green Plains gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Green Plains, was a key innovation area identified from patents. Green Plains's grant share as of June 2024 was 45%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
High protein corn meal production from corn byproducts
The patent US12031105B2 outlines a method and system for recovering oil from whole stillage byproducts, which are generated during the distillation of alcohol. The process begins with the separation of the whole stillage into two primary components: a first insoluble solids portion containing fiber and a first liquid portion containing free oil and protein. This initial separation is achieved using a paddle screen. The first insoluble solids portion is further processed to yield a second liquid portion and a second insoluble solids portion, which is then dewatered using a decanter to produce a wet cake that retains the fiber. The first and second liquid portions are combined, and subsequent separation via a clarifier results in a lighter water-soluble solids portion containing free oil and a heavier solids portion containing protein.
The method continues with the extraction of free oil from the water-soluble solids portion, which can be accomplished using an oil recovery centrifuge or through evaporation techniques. The patent specifies that the oil recovered constitutes approximately 40% to 60% of the total oil from the grain used in the process. Additionally, the system includes various mechanical separation devices, such as paddle screens, decanters, and clarifiers, to facilitate the separation processes. The dewatered insoluble solids portion can also be dried to produce distillers dried grains with solubles. Notably, the heavier solids portion, which contains protein, is not subjected to any evaporation, ensuring the integrity of the protein content throughout the recovery process.
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GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
