Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

A study is proposed to add value to wheat and corn DDGS products by means of fibre degradation using a multi-enzyme preparation of carbohydrases. It is proposed that the new enzyme product containing cellulase, xylanase, glucanase, arabinosidase, ferulic acid esterase, and other activities be used directly during the fermentation process. It is our belief that enzyme addition would significantly improve the quality of the final co-products and would justify their higher margins. In this context, the conditions used in ethanol plants and the length of the fermentation process would appear ideal for enzymes to be utilized cost effectively. In addition, this research would allow for higher yield of ethanol due to more complete conversion of starch and some nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) (i.e., cellulose, ß-glucan) to ethanol. The use of phytase enzyme to facilitate more complete release of phosphorus from the phytate molecule during the fermentation process will also be investigated. The overall objective of this project is to increase the yield of ethanol and to add value to the DDGS co-products in Husky Energy's grain-based ethanol production process. This will be accomplished by using a novel multi-enzyme preparation during the fermentation phase of the ethanol production process. The milestones of this research are: 1. Screening of a variety of enzyme products to target cell wall polysaccharides of wheat and corn; 2. Small scale fermentation of the wheat/corn feedstock(s) utilizing 7 L bioreactors to determine the improvements in ethanol yield and to monitor changes to the nutritive value of the DDGS co-product; 3. Validation of the technology by using the large scale fermentation process at the new generation Husky Energy ethanol plant, and 4. Nutritive evaluation of the final, value-added ""enzyme pre-treated DDGS"" co-product with poultry, swine and ruminants. This research will contribute to a better understanding of the ethanol production technology, yield of ethanol, improved nutritive value of new generation DDGS and will promote the use of both wheat and corn DDGS, important Canadian feed resources, effectively in animal rations.