The goal of this study was to examine cost impacts using techno-economic analysis (TEA) and environmental impacts using life-cycle assessment (LCA) for the production of red wine. Three production scales, denoted as “small” (5000 gal per year), “medium” (50,000 gal per year), and “large” (500,000 gal per year) were chosen for analysis. For example, the consumption of water, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste generation were considered in order to estimate environmental impacts. A spreadsheet-based economic model was also developed. The results of the LCA and TEA were compared amongst all production scales. The results of the LCA showed that both bottle manufacturing and various wine-making processes contributed the greatest environmental impacts. For TEA, the relationships between costs and profits increased as production scale increased; exponential trend lines could describe the data, but linear models were better. This information can be useful when considering what size of winery might be appropriate to invest in, or what operational categories may be most impactful in terms of costs and environmental burdens and, thus, may be targets for efficiency improvements.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the assessment of all environmental burdens regarding a product, a service or a process from raw material to waste removal while TEA (Techno-economic analysis) is one of the economic analysis-methods that is widely used in food industry. The objective of the present study was to provide information with regard to economy and environment to help to make decision when establishing a winery, by conducting TEA and LCA for the particular red wine production processes. For LCA, the consumption of water, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste generation were considered for environmental impacts. For TEA, small, medium and large-scale winemaking processes were chosen for analysis and a spreadsheet-based economic model was developed. The results of the LCA showed that bottle manufacturing, vine planting and winemaking processes contributed the greatest environmental impacts, while for TEA, the relationship between cost and profit among all three scales fitted an exponential model, and fitted a liner model better.

The objective of this project was to conduct TEA (Techno-economic analysis) and LCA (Life cycle assessment) for the production of red wine. Small, medium and large scale winemaking processes were chosen for analysis. For LCA, the consumption of water, energy, green house gas emissions, and solid waste generation were considered for environmental impacts. For TEA, a spreadsheet-based economic model was developed. The results of the LCA and TEA were compared amongst all scales. The results of the LCA showed that both bottle manufacturing and winemaking processes contributed the greatest environmental impacts, while for TEA, the relationship between cost and profit among all three scales fitted an exponential model.

The objective of this project was to determine the effect of hermetic storage conditions on red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais), and to hopefully reduce infestation during storage. This project used 4 oz. glass jars and vacuum grease to provide hermetic storage conditions. Red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) were placed in jars filled with wheat, and maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais) were placed in jars containing corn. We examined counts of live and dead insects over time in both grains, using both hermetic and non-hermetic conditions. After 30 days, statistical analyses were conducted to determine the effects of hermetic vs. non-hermetic conditions for both grains. We found that 100% mortality for red flour beetle (Tribolium Castaneum) was obtained after 12 days for wheat under hermetic conditions. We also found 100% mortality of maize weevils after 12 days of hermetic storage of corn. KeywordsHermetic storage, Red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, wheat, maize

The objective of this project was to separate distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) into high protein and high fiber fractions, in order to improve value and utility as a livestock feed. This project used a laboratoryscale cylindrical blower (Iowa blower) and a laboratory-scale gravity table (Whippet V-80 separator, Sutton, Steele & Steele, Inc.). The raw DDGS was sieved into multiple streams using 10 mesh, 20 mesh and 40 mesh screens. The 10-20 mesh fraction and 20-40 mesh fraction were then run on the blower and the separator separately, using the same settings for air velocity in the range of 0.32 m/sec to 3.06 m/sec. A high protein fraction was achieved (37.13% db) for the 10-20 mesh fraction with an air velocity of 2.42 m/sec by the blower. For the separator, using the same settings for airflow speed, the rate of eccentric shaft vibration, feedstock loading rate, side and end slopes, a high protein fraction was achieved (39.24% db) for the 10-20 mesh fraction with a range of the rate of eccentric shaft vibration from 350 rotation per minute to 500 rotation per minute. Another high protein fraction was also achieved (40.61% db) for the 20-40 mesh fraction with the same range of eccentric shaft vibration (350-500 rpm). As a result, good protein separation could be achieved by operating either the blower or the gravity