Quad County Corn Processors are attributing the 20 percent increase in ethanol production to the combination of Cellerate process technology and Enogen Corn.
Quad County realized it could increase production by 6 percent yield per bushel by converting corn kernel fiber to ethanol as well as a 14 percent increase by combining Cellerate, which is a collaboration between Syngenta and Cellulosic Ethanol Technologies, and Enogen.
“Without changes to the conventional starch ethanol process, Cellerate offers advantages to ethanol plants including pre-treatment in the fiber that allows whole stillage processing without the requirement to separate all the fiber and starch,” Quad County CEO Delayne Johnson said. “Pre-treatment breaks down fiber, allowing mild whole stillage fiber treatment with pH low enough to prevent starch degradation. This reduces the time, chemicals and energy required. It also allows a plant to load significantly more solids and capture residual starch, sugars and cellulosic component in a second fermentation process.With Cellerate, the biofuels industry now has the technology available to create 2 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol – all from the same kernel of corn.”
The Renewable Fuels association recognized Quad County last year with their Industry Award at the 20th Annual National Ethanol Conference. In addition, Cellerate can improve the protein content of dried distillers grain.
“We believe that not only will Cellerate process technology help make advanced and cellulosic ethanol a reality, but the combination of Cellerate and Enogen could represent the next step forward for ethanol production,” Jack Bernens, head of Enogen at Syngenta, said.
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