Developing New Uses for Corn
Investing in research to develop new uses of corn is one of the ways the ICPB strives to increase corn use. For example, finding new uses for corn starch or corn fiber could result in a wealth of value-added corn products. One recent success is PLA (polylactic acid), which is now used in products as varied as disposable cups to carpet.
| Project Title: |
Production of Isosorbide |
| Investigator(s): |
John Holladay |
| Institution/Department: |
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Partner(s): |
Department of Energy |
| Progress: |
Year 5 |
| Description: |
The goal is to
develop new ways to process corn into isosorbide. Isosorbide is
used as a potential new ingredient in plastic materials such as
PET. The use of this polymer additive has the potential to reduce
the amount of petroleum feedstock used in the polymer industry,
lower emissions and improve the properties of the plastic. |
| Project Title: |
Value-Added Products from Hemicellulose |
| Investigator(s): |
Linda Lasure |
| Institution/Department: |
Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental
Lab |
| Partner(s): |
Ohio Corn Marketing
Program, Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council |
| Progress: |
Year 3 |
| Description: |
Hemicellulose
is a component of a co-product of the corn processing industry.
Hemicellulose is in the fiber portion of the kernel that, after
separation or conversion, is mixed with other components and sold
as livestock feed. This proposal is aimed at conversion of hemicellulose
into high-value products. Successful completion of this project
will lead to value-added products from dry mill corn ethanol facilities
and will improve the overall economics of ethanol production.
As more dry mill ethanol facilities begin production, this technology
will help develop new products to diversify the dry mill business. |
| Project Title: |
Fiber Utilization |
| Institution/Department: |
Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory |
| Partner(s): |
National Corn
Growers Association |
| Progress: |
Year 4 |
| Description: |
The goal of this
project is to develop commercailly feasible technology to separate
corn fiber recovered during the wet milling process into the component
substances. Valuable chemicals will be separated from the fiber
stream and the sugars will be converted into ethanol or other
chemicals such as propylene glycol or ethylene glycol. |
