Converting Minnesota Biomass Including DDGS to Bio-Polymers

Roger Ruan, Professor
R. Vance Morey, Professor
Paul Chen, Senior Research Associate
Xuejun Pan, Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Xiangyang Lin, Research Fellow
Hanwu Lei, Research Assistant
Fei Yu, Research Assistant

Funding Source

AURI; Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station

Objective

The objective of this project is to evaluate the properties of bio-polymers made from Minnesota-grown biomass such as corn stover, corn fibers, beet pulp, soybean hulls, sunflower hulls, distiller’s dried grain (DDG), and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) using a process developed here. The process will convert fibrous residues, DDG, and DDGS into bio-polymers such as polyurethane and polyesters.

Need or Impact

DDGS is traditionally used as animal feed. Its price has been declining. This project will develop an alternative use of DDGS which adds value to the overall dry milling so that ethanol production becomes more competitive.

Project Status

In progress.