Zein is a high valued co-product that can be produced from the corn ethanol process.
GTL, in cooperation with their ethanol subsidiary Illinois River Energy, provides space, utilities and feedstock to extract zein protein from corn.
PGI has been testing their corn oil and protein extraction process at GTL’s 110 million gallon ethanol plant located near Rochelle, Illinois.
In 2009, GTL and PGI developed a 2400sq ft pilot plant on GTL’s ethanol plant project.
PGI president Philip Shane said that the objective of the pilot plant project was to demonstrate the efficient extraction and purification of a corn protein (zein) from the corn kernel, prior to fermentation, resulting in a high quality natural product.
Zein is a natural polymer that can be used to make hard coatings, confectioners glaze, gums, flexible films, and biodegradable plastics and fibers.
