Director's Notes - Archives
July, 2010
Hello All,
I hope this message finds each and every one of you doing well.
Research & Technical Activities
- A project to develop and validate analytical methods to help the client going through FDA FAP.
- Collaboration with USDA to study the fate of virginiamycin during the production of DDGS.
- A project to study the fat quality in DDGS. We started Phase I of the project, and by the end of July, we received survey responses from 30 dry grind plants in the U.S.
- A project to study the mycotoxins in DDGS from Illinois. For Phase I, we have samples from July and September which need to be tested for mycotoxins; we plan to collect corn and DDGS (pair) samples for Phase II.
- A project to study the fate of lysine and phytate during DDGS production. We are in the middle of gathering data and started to write one manuscript on furosine and lysine in DDGS.
- Second annual HPLC Round Robin for the ethanol industry. This is a testing program that involves dry grind ethanol plants. We prepare samples and send them out to test and analyze the data.
- Third-party validation of the automated cell-counter. Phase I of the project is to start in August.
- Testing of modified yeast and cellulose determination.
- Testing additions of byproduct of cellulosic ethanol production to corn mash.
- Using clarified thin stillage in corn mash fermentations.
- Iowa RFA issued a fact sheet with a set of guidelines for particle size in the analysis of fat and protein for DDGS, based on a study they commissioned NCERC to do. (www.iowarfa.org)
Pilot Plant and Facility Updates:
- Corn Fractionation: Demolition planning is underway to remove the old wet mill equipment in order to make room for the new corn fractionation equipment.
- New fermenter pumps installed: Piping, electrical and instrumentation installation continues.
- Laboratory fume hood upgrades: Cost estimating has begun to install two new laboratory fume hoods for accommodating Advanced Biofuels work.
Outreach and Community Activities
- July 5 – 9: Stephanie Regagnon (Assistant Director, Commercialization) represented the NCERC at the inaugural meeting of the St. Louis AgriScience Fair. John Caupert (Director) was a guest lecturer on the campus of Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in a course titled, “Agriculture Leadership Of Tomorrow”.
- July 12 - 16: John Caupert (Director) and Stephanie Regagnon (Assistant Director, Commercialization) traveled to Washington, DC to attend the “Corn Congress” of the National Corn Growers Association. While in DC John and Steph met with leadership of USDA/ARS.
- July 19 – 23: Meetings with the St. Louis based Nidus Center to discuss collaboration and partnership opportunities in the biofuels industry. NCERC hosted Executive Staff of the Professional Scientific Masters – Biofuels and Energy Management (Southern Illinois University – Carbondale).
- July 26 - 30: NCERC participated in meetings of the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, hosted by Illinois Corn Growers Association.
Until next time, have a good, productive and safe month.
Regards,
John Caupert, Director National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center
Phone: 618-659-6737 Ext 226
Email: jcaupert@ethanolresearch.com
