Patent GB-1064809-A (GB)
Title: Process for producing starch and alcohol
Inventor: SMITH NORMAN BLAIN
IPC: C12P7/06
Filed: 1965-10-06
Abstract: A starch-bearing grain material such as maize, wheat or rice is steeped in water, a water slurry of the steeped material is subjected to a cracking operation to disintegrate the grain and free the germ, the germ is removed from the resulting cracked magma (in centrifugal or flotation equipment), the degerminated magma is subjected to a dewatering operation (under specified conditions in a screening centrifuge) to obtain a liquid filtrate containing starch, gluten and fine fibre and a solid residue containing coarse fibre, hulls and grits, the liquid filtrate thus obtained is subjected to screening (in rotary stainless steel reels covered with nylon bolting cloth) for the removal of fine fibre therefrom, and thereafter (i) the fibre-free starch and gluten are subjected to centrifugal separation to recover starch substantially free of gluten and/or (ii) the solid residue obtained from the dewatering operation is treated to convert the starch content thereof to sugar and thereby form a material for fermentation, this material is fermented and the resulting fermented material is distilled to recover the alcohol therefrom.ALSO:A starch-bearing grain material such as maize, wheat or rice is steeped in water, a water slurry of the steeped material is subjected to a cracking operation to distintegrate the grain and free the germ, the germ is removed from the resulting cracked magma (in centrifugal or flotation equipment), the degerminated magma is subjected to a dewatering operation (under specified conditions in a screening centrifuge) to obtain a liquid filtrate containing starch, gluten and fine fibre and a solid residue containing coarse fibre, hulls and grits, the liquid filtrate thus obtained is subjected to screening (in rotary stainless steel reels covered with nylon bolting cloth) for the removal of fine fibre therefrom, and thereafter (i) the fibre-free starch and gluten are subjected to centrifugal separathe to recover starch substantially free of gluten and/or (ii) the solid residue obtained from the dewatering operation is treated to convert the starch content thereof to sugar and thereby form a material for fermentation, this material is fermented and the resulting fermented material is distilled to recover the alcohol therefrom. The steeping of the starch-bearing grain material is carried out under specified conditions in a plurality of stages with the flow of steep liquor being countercurrent to the flow of starch-bearing grain material. Sulphur dioxide is used in the steeping operation to inhibit action by micro-organisms and to aid in the extraction of the soluble fractions of the kernels.  The fine fibre discharge is subjected to a second dewatering operation to obtain a liquid filtrate containing additional starch and a solid residue composed of fine fibre. This liquid filtrate is recycled to the screening operation for the removal of fine fibre and the solid residue obtained is commingled with the main solid residue resulting from the first dewatering operation.  The starch product after separation from gluten is further purified by centrifugal separation, washing and drying to give a final product of 9-12% moisture content and 99.5% purity.  The separated gluten stream is subjected to a second centrifugal separation to obtain a water overflow and a gluten underflow, and the water overflow is recycled to the cracking operation to form a slurry of the grain material being cracked of density 8-10.5 DEG  Baume. Oil may be recovered from the separated germ.  Sulphuric acid (subsequently neutralized by sodium carbonate) or diastatic enzymes may be employed for converting the starch.  It is stated that the presence of grain germs in the production of alcohol greatly increases the tendency for the liquor to foam.ALSO:A starch-bearing grain material such as maize, wheat or rice is steeped in water, a water slurry of the steeped material is subjected to a cracking operation to disintegrate the grain and free the germ, the germ is removed from the resulting cracked magma (in centrifugal or flotation equipment), the degerminated magma is subjected to a dewatering operation (under specified conditions in a screening centrifuge) to obtain a liquid filtrate containing starch, gluten and fine fibre and a solid residue containing coarse fibre, hulls and grits, the liquid filtrate thus obtained is subjected to screening (in rotary stainless steel reels covered with nylon bolting cloth) for the removal of fine fibre therefrom, and thereafter (i) the fibre-free starch and gluten are subjected to centrifugal separation to recover starch substantially free of gluten and/or (ii) the solid residue obtained from the dewatering operation is treated to convert the starch content thereof to sugar and thereby form a material for fermentation, this material is fermented and the resulting fermented material is distilled to recover the alcohol therefrom. The steeping of the starch-bearing grain material is carried out under specified conditions in a plurality of stages with the flow of steep liquor being counter-current to the flow of starch-bearing grain material. Sulphur dioxide is used in the steeping operation to inhibit action by micro-organisms and to aid in the extraction of the soluble fractions of the kernels.  The fine fibre discharge is subjected to a second dewatering operation to obtain a liquid filtrate containing additional starch and a solid residue composed of fine fibre.  This liquid filtrate is recycled to the screening operation for the removal of fine fibre and the solid residue obtained is commingled with the main solid residue resulting from the first dewatering operation.  The starch product after separation from gluten is further purified by centrifugal separation, washing and drying to give a final product of 9-12% moisture content and 99.5% purity.  The separated gluten stream is subjected to a second centrifugal separation to obtain a water overflow and a gluten underflow, and the water overflow is recycled to the cracking operation to form a slurry of the grain material being cracked of density 8 DEG -10.5 DEG Baum<\>ae. Oil may be recovered from the separated germ.  Sulphuric acid (subsequently neutralized by sodium carbonate) or diastatic enzymes may be employed for converting the starch.  It is stated that the presence of grain germs in the production of alcohol greatly increases the tendency for the liquor to foam.