Factors affecting oil extraction/water adsorption in sequential extraction processing of corn

The sequential extraction process (SEP) uses ethanol to extract oil and protein from cracked, flaked, and dried corn, and the dried corn simultaneously dehydrates the ethanol. Value-added co-products are possible, potentially making production of fuel ethanol more economical. The effects of solvent-to-corn (S/C) ratio, corn moisture content (MC), and number of extraction stages on ethanol drying, oil recovery, and protein loss during the simultaneous oil extraction/water adsorption step of SEP were evaluated. Extractions were carried out by using both aqueous ethanol and ethanol/hexane blends at 56degreesC. The S/C ratios tested were 3:1, 2:1 (control), 1.5:1, and 1:1 (w/w). More anhydrous ethanol, greater oil yields, and less co-extracted protein were obtained with higher S/C ratios. Less anhydrous ethanol and lower moisture adsorption capacities were obtained when the corn MC was greater than or equal to1.12%. Oil yields gradually decreased with drier corn, whereas protein loss increased when corn MC was <1.12%. Reducing the number of extraction stages from seven (original SEP) to five did not affect ethanol drying capability, oil yields, and protein co-extracted with oil. Using ethanol/hexane blends resulted in more anhydrous ethanol, higher oil yields, and less protein co-extracted with oil.