Wheat distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) is a co-product of ethanol production, primarily utilized as an animal feed ingredient. Reduced protein quality, a highly energy-intensive drying process, and product variability are some of the challenges that currently confront its production in western Canada. The main focus of this research undertaking was to examine, on a laboratory-scale, the effect of condensed distillers solubles (CDS) : wet distillers grain (WDG) blending ratio and drying conditions on the protein quality and physico-chemical characteristics of wheat DDGS. The potential of microwave-based drying methods in minimizing protein damage and energy consumption was investigated. An auxiliary case study was also conducted in the Philippines to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from the PhD research undertaking to a related problem situation in a developing country. It aimed to provide more information about brewers spent grain (BSG) supply and utilization in Misamis Oriental, Philippines and enhanced the efficiency and safety of BSG utilization as an animal feed ingredient. Laboratory-scale investigations used samples produced at three CDS:WDG blending ratios (by mass): 15:85 (15% CDS), 30:70 (30% CDS), and 45:55 (45% CDS) and dried under forced air convection (40-120C), and under microwave (420 – 805 W) and microwave convection (nominal settings of 130C-30% power to 190C-30% power) methods using a domestic microwave oven. Freeze-dried samples were used as standards in evaluating chemical composition and color of wheat DDGS. As CDS level in the blend was increased, protein and ash content of freeze-dried samples increased while fat, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content decreased. These trends were attributed to proximate composition differences between CDS and WDG fractions. The CDS fraction had higher protein and ash and lower fat, ADF, and NDF contents compared to WDG. Variation in the CDS:WDG blending ratio employed in the source ethanol plant could be one of the factors contributing to the observed proximate composition differences between two ethanol plant-sourced wheat DDGS samples. This was verified through proximate analyses of: (i) plant-sourced wheat DDGS samples from two production batches; (ii) CDS and WDG samples obtained on the same production date; and (iii) laboratory-produced wheat DDGS samples at varying CDS:WDG blending ratios. Protein, ash, and NDF contents of forced-air convection-, microwave-, and microwave convection-dried samples also showed strong linear relationships with CDS level. Fat and ADF content, however, did not exhibit similar strong relationships with CDS level, indicating the influence of drying conditions. Maximum lysine and minimum acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP) contents were achieved in blends with the highest CDS level (45% CDS) and dried under lower drying temperature (80C), microwave power (676 W), and microwave convection (150C-30% power) settings. Microwave- and microwave convection drying achieved desirable protein quality associated with lower temperature drying under much shorter times. Laboratory-scale drying of ethanol plant-sourced wet distillers grain with solubles (WDGS) under forced air convection produced DDGS samples with decreased lysine content as drying air temperature was increased. In terms of physical properties, dried samples with higher CDS level were significantly finer, denser, less flowable, less dispersible, have lower thermal diffusivity and higher internal friction coefficients, and produced denser and stronger pellets. Color parameters of freeze-dried samples were significantly affected by CDS level. As CDS level increased, lightness (Hunter L) decreased while redness (Hunter a) increased. The color parameters of forced-air convection-, microwave-, and microwave convection-dried DDGS samples did not, however, exhibit similar linear trends with CDS level as these were also affected by drying conditions, such as drying air temperature and microwave power level. Effective moisture diffusivity values, estimated from the drying data, were also significantly affected by drying conditions (drying air temperature and microwave power levels), CDS level, and interaction between drying air temperature and CDS level. Effective moisture diffusivity decreased as CDS level was increased. Physical properties of two commercial (ethanol plant-sourced) wheat DDGS samples, as affected by moisture content, were also assessed. Techno-economic evaluation results indicated that complete replacement of the conventional hot air drying with microwave drying technology was not yet economically feasible. Although energy consumption during drying was substantially reduced with the use of microwave energy, the cost of electricity to generate microwave energy was high. Incorporating microwave drying toward the end of the hot air drying process was seen as the more economically viable alternative. Drying of BSG was not commonly practiced in Misamis Oriental, Philippines. The material was typically stored in open concrete bins and commonly fed to dairy cattle in its wet form. A prototype batch dryer, powered either by solar or biomass energy, was developed to improve shelf life and safe use of BSG. Initial tests showed that drying spent grain using a biomass furnace was feasible. Operating the dryer using solar energy was not an attractive option because of the long drying time. Basic physical attributes, proximate composition, and moisture sorption characteristics of the dried BSG were also determined. Practical implications of the results of these two studies to their respective local contexts were discussed. Recommendations to further improve understanding of wheat DDGS protein quality and physico-chemical characteristics, BSG dryer performance, backyard farmers’ sustainable access and safe use of BSG were also presented.

Orientador: Luciana Francisco Fleuri / Resumo: O descarte de resíduos agroindustriais pode causar poluição e desperdício se feito de maneira incorreta. Uma solução viável econômica e ecologicamente é usá-los como meio de cultura para crescimento fúngico por fermentação em estado sólido (FES), visando à obtenção de enzimas de interesse. Nesse contexto, grãos de destilaria secos com solúveis (DDGS) são ótima opção para a produção de lipases devido à grande geração mundial e a sua composição. Lipases são enzimas versáteis que podem expressar atividade hidrolítica e de síntese. O uso de resíduos como substrato acarreta uma produção enzimática barata, contornando o problema de acesso a essas enzimas, que são comercializadas a altos preços por poucas empresas. Assim sendo, este trabalho objetivou cultivar fungos por FES em DDGS de sorgo e milho, visando à produção de lipases e à sua caracterização quanto à especificidade, regiosseletividade e massa molecular. Objetivou também aplicar essas enzimas em reações de hidrólise (almejando a biorremediação), esterificação e alcoólise (almejando a produção de biodiesel), assim como testar os produtos destas reações quanto às capacidades antioxidante, antimicrobiana e de influenciar a viabilidade celular, correlacionando-as com estrutura química. As fermentações fúngicas produziram lipases 1,3-específicas com afinidade predominante por ácidos graxos de cadeia longa (até 246,5 U/g) e com o extrato bruto contendo proteínas de massas moleculares entre 14,12 e 37,15 kDa. As lipases foram cap... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Corn is widely used as animal feed as well as for fuel ethanol production. Fiber present in corn is not digested well by non-ruminants such as chicken and swine. Also, this fiber does not participate in conversion of starch to ethanol. Fiber separation from corn flour using the Elusieve process, a combination of sieving and air classification, would result in high starch animal feed and increase ethanol productivity. The objective of the first part of this dissertation was to understand the effect of retention screen size in the hammer mill on fiber separation from corn flour using the Elusieve process. Four different retention screen opening sizes were studied. The highest starch content of 65.2% was in the enhanced flour obtained by using 3.2 mm (8/64") retention screen; starch content of the original corn flour was 62.5%. The objective of the second part was to evaluate Elusieve process for sorghum flour. The combination of hammer milling and Elusieve process was less effective for sorghum flour compared to corn flour. The objectives of the third part were to determine the operating air velocities for corn particles and to compare physical properties of corn particles with that of Distillers’ dried grains with soluble (DDGS) particles. The operating air velocities for large, medium and small corn size fractions were 2.9 to 3.8, 2.8 to 3.0 and 2.5 to 2.6 m/s, respectively. Densities of nonfiber particles for corn flour were higher than for DDGS (earlier study). Compared to DDGS, the difference between fiber and nonfiber particle terminal velocities was higher for corn, signifying relative ease of operability for fiber separation from corn flour. The objective of the fourth part was to study the effect of corn moisture content on fiber separation. There was no effect of moisture content on fiber separation. The objective of the fifth part was to assess the economics of the Elusieve process. For ethanol plant of 50 million gallons/year capacity (50 MGY), payback period would be 3.1 years. The payback period for implementing Elusieve process in an integrated broiler operation with 8 million birds capacity would be 0.4 to 1.3 years.

No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Joe D. Hancock / Six experiments were completed to determine factors influencing the use of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets for nursery and finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 105 nursery pigs were fed corn-soybean meal (SBM) based diets with CP concentrations of 22.5, 25, and 27.5%. Overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by increasing CP (P > 0.19). In Exp. 2, 105 nursery pigs were fed excess CP from SBM and DDGS. Overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F for pigs fed the control diet were not different from those fed the high CP treatments (P > 0.12). However, pigs fed the DDGS treatment had lower G:F than pigs fed the corn-soy diet with similar CP content (P < 0.04). For Exp. 3, 176 finishing pigs were fed diets with CP concentrations increasing from 12 to 18%. Increasing CP had no effect (P > 0.20) on ADG, ADFI, G:F, and hot carcass weight (HCW). For Exp. 4, 180 finishing pigs were fed excess dietary CP from SBM and DDGS. Pigs fed diets with high CP had lower ADG, ADFI, and HCW, but these results were caused by the diet with 40% DDGS (SBM vs DDGS, P < 0.001). For Exp. 5, 224 nursery pigs were used to determine the effects of extrusion processing on the nutritional value of DDGS. Overall ADG and ADFI were greater for pigs fed the corn-soy control compared to the DDGS treatments (P < 0.02). Extruding the DDGS did not improve ADG or G:F (P > 0.11), but DM and GE digestibility were greater for diets with extruded DDGS vs. unprocessed DDGS (P < 0.04). In Exp. 6, 200 finishing pigs were fed DDGS-based diets formulated for ME, NE, and digestible amino acids. Feeding DDGS lowered ADG (P < 0.09) and ADFI (P < 0.05). Formulating for ME, NE, and digestible amino acids needs improved ADG and G:F (P < 0.002) to that of the corn-soy control diet. In conclusion, moderate excesses of dietary CP does not impact growth performance. Also, extruding DDGS can improve the nutritional value of diets for nursery pig and formulating for ME, NE and digestible amino acid needs can improve growth performance of finishing pigs fed diets with high levels of DDGS.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Terry A. Houser / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on pork loin and fat quality. In the first experiment, 1,160 barrows (PIC) were used in a 70-d study to determine the influence of DDGS and glycerol on pork loin and fat quality attributes. Barrows were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet with the addition of selected levels of DDGS (0 or 20%) and glycerol (0, 2.5, or 5%) feed stuffs. Loins from the two heaviest pigs in each pen were removed for evaluation of pork loin and fat quality. Experiment two was a pilot study, in which eight non-pregnant sows were fed either 0 or 50% DDGS with a corn soybean meal based diet for 92-d. In the first experiment, there were no DDGS x glycerol interactions for purge loss %, instrumental color (L*a*b*), visual color, marbling score, drip loss %, visual color, pH, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), cook loss %, myofibrillar tenderness, juiciness, pork flavor intensity, connective tissue amount, and overall tenderness. There was a DDGS x glycerol interaction (P<0.03) for off-flavor intensity. Pigs fed diets with 20% DDGS had higher WBSF values, lower myofibrillar tenderness, lower overall tenderness scores, lower connective tissue scores, and had more off-flavors (P<0.05). Loin fatty acid analysis revealed an increase in palmitoleic, linoleic, and eicosadienoic acids (P<0.05) and iodine value (P<0.03) for pigs fed 20% DDGS. In the second experiment, there were no differences (P>0.64) in BW or backfat change for sows fed either 0 or 50% DDGS. No differences (P>0.23) in lipid oxidation from lean trimmings as measured by 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay were reported either initially or after 5 d of retail display for sows fed either 0 or 50% DDGS. As expected, lipid oxidation increased (P<0.003) as measured by TBARS assay for both treatments from d 1 to 5. Jowl fatty acid analysis revealed an increase in linoleic acid (P<0.01), total polyunsaturated fatty acids (P<0.01), and the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (P<0.03) for sows fed 50% DDGS.

Arabinoxylans (AX’s) are the predominant non-starch polysaccharides found in the structural matrix of cell walls in wheat grains, being present in large quantities in wheat bran, accounting for up to 25% of its composition. Their physicochemical properties define their functionality which can be beneficial in cereal-based products such as bread, where their addition could enhance the gluten matrix responsible for the aerated structure and quality of bread. Bioethanol production has grown rapidly, however, to be economically viable, cereal-derived first generation biorefineries need to adopt the process integration approaches employed in petrochemical refineries, and exploit the interaction opportunities arising from multiple product streams. A potential source of AX is its extraction from the wheat bran based low value animal feed produced as an end product of the bioethanol distillation process. The benefits of extraction are twofold, to enhance feed nutritional value by reducing fibre content and produce a high value product for use as a functional ingredient in the breadmaking industry. Extraction of AX involves precipitation with ethanol, giving opportunity for integration and economic extraction in the context of a bioethanol plant. Currently no commercial supply of AX is available in sufficient quantities to conduct functionality trials; therefore the objective of the current work was to study the feasibility of extracting AX from animal feed and, by developing a scaled-up extraction process based on that of Hollmann and Lindhauer (2005) and Du et al. (2009), to produce sufficient quantities to conduct functionality trials into its effects on the breadmaking process. Two animal feeds, representative of contrasting biorefinery operations, were used for AX extraction, Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and C*Traffordgold®, with water and alkaline AX being extracted from each. Monosaccharide analysis of the feedstocks confirmed the presence of arabinoxylans, with DDGS containing 12.5% AX and TG 13% AX, with A/X ratios of 0.55 and 0.61, respectively. The purity of AX extracted at both lab scale and on scale up was consistent, with 29.5% and 23% extracted at lab scale and 30% and 25% extracted in the scaled up process for WEAX from DDGS and TG, respectively. The purity of AEAX was lower, with 18% and 14% at lab scale and 15% and 14% for scale up for DDGS and TG, respectively. The results indicate that the same purity of crude extract can be achieved at both lab and larger scale extraction, however lower yields and absolute yields were observed at scale up and anticipated to be due to the crude nature of the process, which needs further optimisation. Addition of crude AX extracts to bread dough gave insights into its effects and potential benefits and issues. The type and origin of AX was found to affect bread dough characteristics in different ways. WEAX from both DDGS and TG exhibited effects on all stages of the breadmaking process, by improving stability and reducing softening at mixing, and slowing proving allowing the dough to retain a better aerated structure, leading to an open aerated finished loaf structure. AEAX from both types of animal feed generally caused destabilization of gas cells and coalescence, resulting in loaves with a tighter crumb structure. The AX dosage appeared to have a non-linear effect, with some positive changes at 1% addition turning to negative changes when added at 2%. This work has provided insights into the functionality of AX in bread dough, and a process has been developed to allow greater than lab scale production of arabinoxylan. The effects of AX need to be understood more clearly to retain beneficial effects, whilst supressing detrimental ones, preferably while avoiding the need for extensive purification. The work supports the possibility for AX extracts to be produced commercially as bread ingredients that could enhance bread structure and nutritional quality, and provides an elegant solution for synergy between two wheat-based industries serving both the food and non-food needs of society.

This work solves the use of stillage from ethanol production. Also solves processing into material DDGS and then solves the material and energy balance. This material and energy balance was calculated for 7070 kg of stillage per hour. The final energy requirements of the process were based on the amount of stillage produced to obtain 1 m3 of ethanol. The results of this work offer an insight to the problems of processing stillage. Thanks to conversion for 1 m3 of produced ethanol, results is also offerring the possibility of fast conversion of an approximate energy needed for devices of other capacities.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the climate impact from different arable land use options and protein feeds aimed for cattle. This has been made by executing two life cycle assessments (LCAs). The first LCA aimed to compare the following three arable land use options: Cultivation of wheat used for production of bioethanol, carbon dioxide and DDGS Cultivation of rapeseed used for production of RME, rapeseed meal and glycerine Fallow in the form of long-term grassland The second LCA aimed to compare the three protein feeds DDGS, rapeseed meal and soybean meal. In the LCA of arable land, the functional unit 1 ha arable land during one year was used and the LCA had a cradle-to-grave perspective. The LCA of protein feeds had the functional unit 100 kg digestible crude protein and had a cradle-to-gate perspective, hence the use and disposal phases of the feeds were excluded. Bioethanol, DDGS and carbon dioxide produced at Lantmännen Agroetanol, Norrköping, were investigated in this study. The production of RME, rapeseed meal and glycerine were considered to occur at a large-scale plant in Östergötland, but no site-specific data was used. Instead, general data of Swedish production was used in the assessment. The wheat and rapeseed cultivations were considered to take place at the same Swedish field as the fallow takes place. The protein feed DDGS was produced at Lantmännen Agroetanol and the rapeseed meal was assumed to be produced at a general large-scale plant in Sweden. In the soybean meal scenario, a general case for the Brazilian state Mato Grosso was assumed and no specific production site was investigated. Data required for the LCAs was retrieved from literature, the LCI database Ecoinvent and from Lantmännen Agroetanol. In the LCA of arable land use options, system expansion was used on all products produced to be able to compare the wheat and rapeseed scenarios with the fallow scenario. In the LCA of protein feeds, system expansion was used on co-products. The products in the arable land use options and the co-products in the protein feed scenarios are considered to replace the production and use of products on the market with the same function. The result shows that the best arable land use option from a climate change perspective is to cultivate wheat and produce bioethanol, carbon dioxide and DDGS. This is since wheat cultivation has a higher yield per hectare compared to rapeseed and therefore a bigger amount of fossil products and feed ingredients can be substituted. To have the arable land in fallow is the worst option from a climate change perspective, since no products are produced that can substitute alternative products. Furthermore, the result shows that DDGS and rapeseed meal are to prefer before soybean meal from a climate change perspective, since soybean meal has a higher climate impact than DDGS and rapeseed meal. This can be explained by the smaller share of co-products produced in the soybean meal scenario compared to the DDGS and rapeseed meal scenarios. Since the production and use of co-products leads to avoided greenhouse gas emissions (since they substitute alternatives), the amount of co-products being produced is an important factor. A sensitivity analysis was also executed testing different system boundaries and variables critical for the result in both LCAs. The conclusion of this study is that arable land should be used to cultivate wheat in order to reduce the total climate impact from arable land. Furthermore, it is favorable for the climate if DDGS or rapeseed meal are used as protein feeds instead of imported soybean meal.

This study was conducted to determine if nutrient utilization and enteric methane (CH4) emissions could be improved in overwintering beef cows consuming low-quality forage supplemented with protein in the form of dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) in thermal-neutral and cold-stressed environments. Thirty mature, dry and non-pregnant beef cows were divided into three treatment groups and fed diets consisting of low-quality (6.0% crude protein; CP) forage with no DDGS (control, CON), 10% DDGS (borderline sufficient CP, 8.7% CP), or 20% DDGS (excess CP, 11.6% CP). Cold acclimatization did not appear to affect nutrient intake and digestibility by beef cows, but increased N and P excretion by 1.2x and 2.5x, respectively. Cold acclimatized cows reduced energy excretion by 26.8% (7.1 vs. 5.2 ± 0.30% GEI in fall and winter, respectively; P < 0.0001) in accordance with a 33.8% increase in rumen fluid rate of passage (ROP). Supplementation with DDGS improved digestibility of N and P (40.6 vs. 61.2 ± 2.45% N and -23.9 vs. 5.7 ± 5.95% P for CON and 20%DDGS, respectively; P < 0.0001) by increasing digestible substrate in the diet. Protein supplementation increased rumen NH3-N concentrations (1.5, 2.1 and 3.1 ± 0.15 mg 100 mL-1; P < 0.0001) enough to increase rumen fermentation efficiency, resulting in 18.5% lower enteric CH4 emissions when CP was fed in excess of animal requirements. Total excretion of N and P were increased two- and 45-fold, respectively, when excess CP was fed. Reduced enteric CH4 emissions as a result of cold acclimatization suggest an advantage for the Canadian beef herd in terms of environmental sustainability. Supplementing CP in excess of cow requirements may improve nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation efficiency, and mitigate enteric CH4 emissions in beef cows fed low-quality forage diets, but may also contribute to greater N and P loading of soil and ground water.