Patent ID: 8524473

Claim:
In an ethanol production process wherein a starch-containing feedstock is hydrolyzed to produce ethanol and whole stillage, the improvement to which comprises: (a) separating the whole stillage to produce a protein-containing solids stream and a solubles stream, and (b) drying the protein-containing solids stream in a spray dryer operating at an inlet hot air temperature of less than about 450° F. and an exhaust temperature of between about 140° F. and about 170° F. for a period of time to produce a protein rich product having a water content of less than about 15% by weight, wherein drying the protein-containing solids stream produces a volatile organic compound stream comprised of volatile organic compounds and water vapor; (c) passing the volatile organic compound stream through a cold trap to produce a water-volatile organic compound liquid; and (d) passing the water-volatile organic compound liquid through a separator to separate the volatile organic compound and the water to form a volatile organic compound product.