Cereal Chem. 86(2):170-180Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), the major coproduct from the corn-based fuel ethanol industry, is primarily used as livestock feed. Due to high protein, fiber, and energy contents, there is a high demand for DDGS. Flowability of DDGS is often hindered due the phenomenon of caking. Shipping and handling of DDGS has thus become a major issue due to bridge formation between the DDGS particles. The objective of this investigation was to measure flowability characteristics of DDGS samples from five ethanol plants in the north central region of the United States. Carr and Jenike tests were performed and the resulting data were mathematically compared with a previously developed empirical model. The largest particles had an average geometric mean diameter (GMD) of 1.19 mm, while the lowest particle size had an average GMD of 0.5 mm. Soluble solid levels were ≈10.5-14.8% (db). The effective angle of friction (δ) was 43.00-57.00°. Additionally, a few parameters exhibited fairly high linear correlations, including aerated and packed bulk densities (r = 0.97), geometric standard deviation and Carr compressibility (r = 0.71), geometric standard deviation and Hausner ratio (r = -0.70). Overall flowability assessment indicated that the commercial DDGS samples did have the potential for flow problems, although no samples exhibited complete bridging. Quantifying DDGS flowability is a necessary step toward overcoming this logistical challenge facing the fuel ethanol industry.

Cereal Chem. 86(4):410-420With the U.S. fuel ethanol industry projected to grow during the next several years, supplies of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are anticipated to continue to grow as well. DDGS is used primarily as livestock feed. Much of the DDGS must be shipped, often over large distances, outside the Corn Belt (which is where most of the corn-based ethanol plants are currently located). Stickiness and caking among particles is a common issue for DDGS, and it often leads to flowability problems. To address this, the objective of this study was to understand the cross-sectional and surface natures of DDGS particles from five ethanol plants, and how they interact with DDGS properties. This study examined the distribution patterns of chemical components within cross-sections, within section edges (i.e., surface layers), and on surfaces using standard staining techniques; chemical composition was determined using standard protocols; and physical and flowability properties were also determined.Crude protein in the samples was 28.33-30.65% db, crude fat was 9.40-10.98% db, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was 31.84-39.90% db. Moisture contents were 4.61-8.08% db, and geometric mean diameters were 0.37-0.52 mm. Cross-sectional staining showed protein levels of 19.57-40.39%, and carbohydrate levels of 22.17-43.06%, depending on the particle size examined and the production plant from which the DDGS was sampled. Staining of DDGS particles indicated a higher amount of surface layer protein compared with carbohydrate thickness in DDGS particles that had a lower flow function index (which indicated potential flow issues). Additionally, surface fat staining suggested that higher surface fat also occurred in samples with worse flow problems. This study represents another step toward understanding why DDGS particles stick together during storage and transport, and will hopefully help to improve DDGS material handling strategies.

Cereal Chem. 87(5):439-447

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) has been shown to be an excellent livestock feed ingredient, and it is produced by the fuel ethanol industry, which is primarily located in the Midwest United States. There is a growing need to transport DDGS over long distances via rail, but this can often be hampered by poor flowability when unloading. DDGS is formed by combining condensed distillers solubles (CDS) with distillers wet grain (DWG) and then drying at high temperatures. It is hypothesized that drying conditions can affect resulting DDGS chemical, physical, and flow properties, but there is currently little quantified information about drying behavior of these coproducts. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the moisture desorption patterns of DWG for three CDS addition levels [10%, 15%, and 20% wet basis (wb)] at three drying temperatures (1005C, 2005C, and 3005C), to thus produce DDGS. Several mathematical models (Page, Newton, Pilosof, Henderson-Pabis, and others) were used to fit the observed moisture data over time. A new comprehensive model was developed for moisture ratio versus time (the best fit had R 2 = 0.91, SEM = 0.17) using a modified Page model which accounted for varying CDS and temperature levels. The developed model will be useful to predict moisture content values of DDGS for various drying times, CDS addition levels, and drying temperatures, and will thus be a benefit to industrial processing conditions.

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