MEMBRANE FILTRATION FOR THICKENING AND STARCH WASHING IN CORN WET MILLING

摘要

An improved corn wet milling process is disclosed in which a first stream comprising water, starch, and protein ( e.g., gluten) is generated by separating fiber from wet milled degermed corn particles ( e.g. fiber separation step ). Membrane filtration ( e.g. starch-protein stream thickening) is performed on the first stream, producing a first retentate and a first aqueous permeate. The first retentate (e.g. thickened starch-protein stream) is separated into a second stream and a third stream ( e.g. primary starch separation step ). The second stream comprises water and a majority of the starch present in the first retentate, and the third stream comprises water and a majority of the protein (e.g., gluten) present in the first retentate. This process provides an economical means of recovering a higher percentage of the available cornstarch for inclusion in high value products.