The biochemical processing train has areas for grinding, enzymatic conversion of grain and biomass to fermentable sugars, microbial fermentation, product separation and recovery (e.g., centrifugation, distillation, filtration, chromatography), drying (e.g., cellulosic feed, co-product), wastewater treatment and recycling, and livestock feed storage and blending, and is able to evaluate new unit operations designed for this growing industry.

The train is equipped to replicate the entire dry-grind ethanol process at large pilot scale. This system includes fermentation vessels of 50, 200, 500 and 1,000 liters working capacities, horizontal decanter centrifuge, a membrane filtration system, a distillation column and stillage evaporator, and a pilot-scale rotary drying system that can dry approximately 500 pounds of DDGS per day. Innovative technologies are being developed to reduce water and energy consumption in grain ethanol production.

The 500-liter fermentor (right) and 1,000-liter fermentor located in the Biochemical Processing Train.