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NCGA
Checkoff-Funded Research Continues to Find New Markets for Corn Growers
(6-8-01)
Corn fiber can be
considered the Rodney Dangerfield of corn utilization research, due
largely to the lack of knowledge of the product's potential. This is
one of several projects the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
is involved in, leveraging corn checkoff funds with U.S. Department
of Energy grants to find new uses for corn. The DOE has put in $1.7
million to the two-year project.
NCGA Director of
Business Development Bob Sedlacek attended a two-day project update
this week on the ongoing research held at the ADM laboratories in Decatur,
Ill. Attending the meeting were representatives of ADM and Pacific Northwest
Laboratories.
Sedlacek pointed
out the advantages of this overlooked, yet important, co-product of
the wet-milling process of corn. "Corn fiber is an underutilized
portion of the corn kernel from the wet-milling process," he said.
"It is sold as a binder for the high-protein liquids accumulated
during the wet-milling process and together, they make a very good livestock
feed component."
During the meeting,
which is held quarterly by the members of the project team to review
data and analysis, one of the topics covered was the recovery of corn
fiber oil. "We believe that we can develop further processes that
use components of corn fiber for industrial products," said Sedlacek.
"Those elements can also used for nutraceutical purposes, such
as the development of human nutrients and supplements. NCGA is working
in partnership with Pacific Northwest Laboratories and ADM with a grant
from the U.S. Department of Energy for development of this process."
Also covered during
the meeting was corn hydrolysis. "Hydrolysis is the separation
of the hemicellulose from the corn fiber," Sedlacek said. "The
hemicellulose must be broken down into sugars and those sugars can be
used as feedstock for catalysis or polyols or ethanol."
Corn growers will
benefit from this process by the opening of new doors for corn, Sedlacek
noted. "This is a new market for corn in that it's being developed
for industrial use," he said. "In the long term, we believe
these techniques can be applied to make other important chemicals from
a renewable resource. Also, it expands the markets for corn and creates
a source for chemicals other than petroleum."
Growers will also
benefit when this research becomes commercially viable. "When these
ideas are put into use," said Sedlacek, "money will begin
to come in and that money, in turn, will be used for more research into
new markets for corn and other renewable resources."
Last
reviewed June 7, 2001
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