Grain distillate is one of the main by-products in the production of alcohol from grain raw materials. Millions of tons of distillate are produced worldwide every year, which poses a significant challenge for producers both in terms of environmental impact and economic efficiency. However, increasing requirements for environmental standards and the need to minimize production waste stimulate the search for effective methods for its processing. This article is devoted to modern installations for the processing of grain distillate, their technological solutions, economic advantages and development prospects.

What is grain distillate?

Grain distillate is a residual distillation product that is formed during the production of ethyl alcohol from grain raw materials (wheat, corn, rye, barley). It consists of a liquid containing a high concentration of organic substances: yeast residues, undigested starch raw materials, proteins, fats and other organic compounds.

The chemical composition of the grain includes:

Water (80-90%);

Dry matter (10-20%);

Organic components, including proteins, fats, fiber and ash;

Vitamins and minerals.

Problems of post-alcohol grain disposal

Lack of proper disposal of grain can lead to serious environmental problems:

Pollution of water resources. The discharge of grain into rivers and lakes leads to an increase in the level of organic pollution, which causes oxygen deficiency and the death of aquatic fauna.

Negative impact on soils. Pouring grain onto fields without prior treatment can cause acidification of soils and a decrease in their fertility.

High level of disposal costs. Transportation and storage of liquid grain are expensive processes due to the large volume of liquid and its specific composition.

Modern methods and installations for processing of sorghum

Modern technologies allow to transform sorghum from waste into a valuable resource, using several main approaches:

1. Evaporation and concentration of sorghum

The evaporation process involves removing water from sorghum in order to increase the concentration of dry substances. This is achieved using evaporation installations that operate on the principle of reducing pressure and increasing temperature, which allows for effective removal of moisture.

Advantages:

Reduction in the volume of liquid waste.

Obtaining concentrated sorghum suitable for further use in the feed industry.

Reduction in transportation and storage costs.

Disadvantages:

 

High energy costs for the evaporation process.

The need to use additional equipment for cooling and condensation of steam.

2. Drying and granulation

Drying sorghum allows to reduce its humidity to 10-12%, which ensures the stability of the product during long-term storage. Granulation adds the possibility of using dry bagasse as a feed additive or fuel.

Main stages of drying:

Pre-dehydration (centrifugation or pressing) to remove liquid.

Thermal drying using drum or belt dryers.

Granulation of the dry product to facilitate transportation and storage.

Advantages:

Increase in product shelf life.

Reduction in transportation costs.

Use of bagasse as an energy-rich feed.

3. Anaerobic fermentation for biogas production

Anaerobic fermentation is an effective way to process bagasse to produce biogas, which can be used as a source of renewable energy. The process takes place in special bioreactors in the absence of oxygen, where organic matter is broken down by microorganisms to form methane.

Advantages:

Provision of an environmentally friendly source of energy.

Reduction in the volume of organic waste.

Use of fermentation residues as fertilizers.

Disadvantages:

High cost of building biogas plants.

The need to control the temperature and humidity of the process.

Long reactor start-up period.

4. Composting and use in agriculture

Composting of grain waste is another method of disposal that allows obtaining high-quality organic fertilizers. Grain waste is mixed with other organic waste (straw, sawdust, manure) and undergoes a decomposition process with the participation of aerobic microorganisms.

Advantages:

Improvement of soil properties due to the high organic content.

Reduction of costs for chemical fertilizers.

Environmental safety.

Economic and environmental benefits of grain waste processing

Processing of post-alcohol grain waste has significant advantages:

Reduction of environmental impact. Processing reduces the amount of organic waste discharged into the environment.

Increased economic efficiency. Bard processing allows you to reduce waste disposal costs and receive additional income from the sale of feed additives or biogas.

Use of renewable resources. Bard becomes a source of bioenergy and organic fertilizers, reducing the need for fossil resources.

Prospects for the development of bard processing technologies

In the future, further development of bard processing technologies is expected, which will increase the efficiency of processes and reduce their cost. The main areas of development include:

Innovative biotechnologies to increase biogas yieldin.

Automation of processes to optimize energy consumption.

Development of new feed additives enriched with proteins and vitamins.

Recycling of post-alcohol grain bran is not only an important step towards minimizing the environmental impact of alcohol production, but also an opportunity to increase the economic efficiency of enterprises. Thanks to modern installations and technologies for bran processing, this waste can be converted into a valuable resource for agriculture and energy. Investments in such technologies have the prospect of a quick return due to reduced disposal costs and obtaining additional sources of income.