Stillage solids concentration

Abstract

Stillage solids concentration methods are disclosed wherein a solids concentration aid is added to a process stream mixture in a corn to ethanol process. The solids concentration aid may comprise a cationic polymer coagulant or flocculant or both, a starch based coagulant or flocculant or a biologically derived (i.e., plant or animal origin) coagulant or flocculant. Acrylamide/quaternary ammonium copolymers and homopolymeric polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride polymers are noteworthy examples of suitable solids concentration aids.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for concentrating solids in a corn to ethanol process wherein oil and solids are present in a process stream mixture, said method comprising adding to said process stream mixture an effective amount of a solids concentration aid, said solids concentration aid comprising a cationic polymer coagulant or flocculant or both. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method for concentrating solids in a corn to ethanol process wherein oil and solids are present in a process stream mixture, said method comprising adding to said process stream mixture an effective amount of a solids concentration aid, wherein said solids concentration aid comprises a cationic polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said cationic polymer comprises:
 i) copolymers having monomeric repeat units of Formulae I and II   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x:y is within the rage of 95:5 to 5:95; R 1  and R 2  may be the same or different and are chosen form H, and CH 3 ; Q is —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, or —C(O)NH—, R 3  is branched or linear (C 1 -C 4 ) alkylene, R 4 , R 5 , and R 6  are each independently chosen from H, C 1 -C 4  linear or branched alkyl, or a C 5 -C 8  aromatic or alkylaromatic group, A is an anion selected from Cl − , Br − , HSO 4   −  or MeOSO 3   −  wherein Me is methyl; or
 viii) homopolymers of diallyl dialkyl ammonium chloride. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said cationic polymer i) is present, said cationic polymer i) comprising acrylamide and one or more co-monomeric repeat unit chosen from AETAC, MATAC, METAC, and AEDBAC. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said cationic polymer i) is present in an amount of 1-10,000 ppm based upon the weight of said process stream mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited  claim 7 , wherein said cationic copolymer i) is acrylamide/AETAC. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited  claim 7 , wherein said cationic copolymer i) is acrylamide/MATAC. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited  claim 7 , wherein said cationic copolymer i) is acrylamide/METAC. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited  claim 7 , wherein said cationic copolymer i) is acrylamide/AEDBAC. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited  claim 7 , wherein said cationic copolymer i) is acrylamide/AETAC/AEDBAC. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited  claim 4 , wherein said cationic polymer viii) is present. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited  claim 13 , wherein said cationic polymer viii) is homopolymeric polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride—(poly DADMAC). 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited  claim 13 , wherein said cationic polymer i) is also present. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited  claim 15 , wherein said cationic polymer i) comprises acrylamide and at least one co-monomeric repeat unit chosen from AETAC, MATAC, METAC, and AEDBAC. 
     
     
         17 - 19 . (canceled)