ARS | Publication request: Processes for Recovery of Corn Germ and Optionally Corn Coarse Fiber (Pericarp)

Submitted to: Invention Report
Publication Type: Patent Application
Publication Acceptance Date: May 31, 2005
Publication Date: May 31, 2005
Citation: Johnston, D., Singh, V. 2005. Processes for recovery of corn germ and optionally corn coarse fiber (pericarp). US Patent #6,899,910 B2. May 31, 2005.

Technical Abstract: A process for recovering corn germ and corn coarse fiber from corn in a dry grind process, involving soaking corn kernels in water to produce soaked corn kernels, grinding the soaked corn kernels to produce a ground corn slurry, and incubating the ground corn slurry with at least one enzyme(amylase(s), protease(s), cell wall degrading enzyme(s), or mixtures thereof, and optionally other enzyme(s)) to increase the specific gravity of the slurry to about 10-about 16 Baume so that the corn germ and corn coarse fiber floats to the top of the slurry, recovering the corn germ and the corn coarse fiber, and optionally producing ethanol from the slurry no longer containing the corn germ and corn coarse fiber. The process does not involve the addition of starch, a salt, a sugar syrup, or mixtures thereof to the slurry.