Ethanol plants are sometimes criticized for their water use, but it’s hard to find examples of comparable industries that have gone so far, invested so much, to manage and reduce their water utilization. From sustainably sourcing and recycling water to investing in myriad new technologies to bring down consumption, producers have taken remarkable steps to lower their H2O requirements, often gaining additional benefits along the way.&nbsp;Our lineup begins with “H2Opportunity In Every Drop,” on page 14, which examines an array of solutions producers can leverage to decrease water use and improve overall plant performance. In today’s carbon intensity-driven industry, we report, producers are keenly interested in opportunities to lower their CI via reduced water consumption and higher performance from water-linked infrastructure. From combating process-inhibiting foulants and optimizing circulation rates to deploying custom-engineered equipment, media and controls, conserving water, sensibly so, goes hand in hand with reducing energy use. &nbsp; &nbsp;On page 22, we turn to coproduct optimization in “Capturing Free Oil,” catching up with Alfa Laval on the front lines—and front end—of DCO extraction. Many of the companies that serve ethanol also serve other industries, and sometimes that’s beneficial. In this piece, we look at one such product: a two-phase decanter that, while applicable to other industries, helps ethanol plants fully capture the free oil found in whole stillage. Specifically, we report on the company’s front-end skimmer, which can boost DCO yields by 25%-30%.&nbsp;Jumping back into water, we introduce you to ZwitterCo in “Molecule-Coated Membranes,” on page 30. The story explains the company’s new approach to water reduction and treatment, which is as novel as its principal product, zwitterions, which attract water while rejecting troublesome organic compounds. By harnessing the properties of these novel molecules—paired with a copolymer for durability—ZwitterCo has been able to design and commercialize an advanced membrane technology that offers a chemistry breakthrough for treating wastewater streams.Finally, we catch up with the newly rebranded Distillers Technology Council, an organization that’s older than the U.S. ethanol industry itself. The group, which was founded as the Distillers Feed Research Council in the 1940s and, for the past 30 years, operating as the Distiller Grains Technology Council, refreshed its name and mission last year to reflect a broader focus beyond distillers grains to a larger array of coproducts including distillers corn oil, high-quality protein, highly digestible fiber and more. While most rebrands are about getting more narrow in focus, the DTC is now casting a wider net to represent an evolving industry with new coproducts in need of support and delineation. &nbsp; &nbsp;Enjoy the read!Author: Tom Bryan&nbsp; President and Editor

2025-05-30 - Streams of New Efficiency (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

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The July issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine addresses ways the ethanol industry is reducing its water use. 

Streams of New Efficiency

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