Simultaneous Agglomeration and Drying of Distillers Grains to Produce Spherical Pellets (Granules) in a Rotary Drum Dryer
A process converts abundant ethanol byproduct (DDGS) into uniform, microsized particles for use as a natural, potentially time-release, chemical carrier in applications like agriculture.
As ethanol production continues to ramp up, the volume of remnant by-product of dried distillers grain solids (DDGS) is becoming a bigger issue. Current uses include animal feed; however, only certain domestic animals can digest it as a meaningful feed.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a process for using DDGS as a natural carrier for chemicals. Because it is known that grain will absorb moisture, researchers developed a process for reducing the DDGS to a uniform, microsized particle, coated with water-based chemicals. These tiny particles can spread uniformly across an intended area and have the potential for time-release delivery.
Advantages:
-Useful application for DDGS, which is abundant, but has limited
applications
-Potential use for time-release delivery
Potential Application:
-Agriculture
TRL: 6
Intellectual Property:
Provisional-Patent, 2008-04-03, United States | Utility Patent, 2009-04-03, United States | CON-Patent, 2011-05-12, United States | DIV-Patent, 2015-11-12, United States
Keywords: DDGS application, natural chemical carrier, microsized particles, water-based chemicals, time-release delivery, agricultural application, distillers grain utilization, ethanol byproduct, grain solids carrier, chemical delivery system, Agriculture, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), Ethanol