Engineering Commons^™

Modeling The Effects Of Pelleting On The Logistics Of Distillers Grains Shipping, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Elif Kongar

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The energy security needs of energy importing nations continue to escalate. It is clear that biofuels can help meet some of the increasing need for energy. Theoretically, these can be produced from a variety of biological materials, including agricultural residues (such as corn stover and wheat straw), perennial grasses, legumes, algae, and other biological materials. Currently, however, the most heavily utilized material is corn starch. Industrial fuel ethanol production in the US primarily uses corn, because it is readily converted into fuel at a relatively low cost compared to other biomass sources. The production of corn-based ethanol in the US …

Costs Of Pelleting To Enhance The Logistics Of Distillers Grains Shipping, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Elif Kongar

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Biofuels, especially corn-based ethanol, can help meet some of the increasing demand for transportation fuels. Currently, the most heavily utilized substrate is corn grain, which is readily converted into ethanol at a relatively low cost compared to other biomass sources. The production of ethanol in the U.S. has been dramatically increasing during the last several years; so too has the quantity of manufacturing coproducts. These nonfermentable residues are most often dried and sold as distillers dried grains with solubles – DDGS. Even though these materials are used to feed livestock in local markets, as the size of the industry continues …

Effect Of External Energy On Atomic, Crystalline And Powder Characteristics Of Antimony And Bismuth Powders, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Vikram V. Dabhade, Rama Mohan Tallapragada

Mahendra Kumar Trivedi

The Effects Of Extrusion Processing Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs)-Based Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens) Feeds, Ferouz Y. Ayadi, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Michael L. Brown

Kurt A. Rosentrater

This study was conducted to investigate the production of balanced diets for juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens) feeds. Six isocaloric (~ 3.21 kcal/g), isonitrogenous (31.5% db) ingredient blends were formulated with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) at a feed moisture content of 60-65% db, with appropriate amounts of soybean meal, fish meal, vitamin and mineral mix. Extrusion cooking was performed using a laboratory-scale single screw extruder at a constant barrel temperature profile of 40ºC-90ºC-100ºC, and a constant screw speed of 230 rpm (24.1 rad/s). During processing the mass flow rate was determined, …

Sensory Evaluation Of Barley Chocolate Chip Cookies By Consumers With Different Demographic Background And Eating Patterns, Maria Botero Omary, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Douglas L. Lewis, Elizabeth Arndt, Diana J. Frost, Lauren M. Winstone

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Health organizations have recommended an increase in consumption of whole grains, total dietary fiber, and soluble fiber to help reduce the potential risk factor for the development of type-2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, among others. The purpose of this project was to determine the sensory characteristics of chocolate chip (CC) cookies containing a high-soluble fiber whole barley flour (HSFWB). Cookies with 0, 30, 50, and 70% HSFWB were evaluated for appearance, color, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability using a 9-point hedonic scale. Forty-nine students, faculty, and staff tested the cookies on three different days. Demographic and behavioral data on …

Measurement Of Sticky Point Temperature Of Coffee Powder With A Rheometer, Rumela Bhadra, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Sticky point temperature (Ts) measurement for hygroscopic food and biomaterial powders is traditionally performed with complex glass instruments. This property is used to characterize material stickiness, which substantially affects the flow and physical behavior of powders. In this research study we developed a new methodology to measure sticky point temperature using a rheometer, and validated our Ts data with previously published coffee powder data. Our Ts measurement using a rheometer was performed in two replications. The behavior of Ts as a function of moisture content (%, db) was observed to be non-linear. After 16% (db) moisture content, however, there were …

Survey Of Us Fuel Ethanol Plants, Jessica A. Saunders, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The ethanol industry is growing in response to increased consumer demands for fuel as well as the renewable fuel standard. Corn ethanol processing creates the following products: 1/3 ethanol, 1/3 distillers grains, and 1/3 carbon dioxide. As the production of ethanol increases so does the generation of its coproducts, and viable uses continually need to be developed. A survey was mailed to operational US ethanol plants to determine current practices. It inquired about processes, equipment used, end products, and desired future directions for coproducts. Results indicated that approximately one-third of plant managers surveyed expressed a willingness to alter current drying …

A Comparison Of Measurement Procedures Used To Determine The Bulk Density Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Clairmont L. Clementson, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Klein E. Heleji

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn-based ethanol in the U.S. has been dramatically increasing in recent years, and consequently so has the quantity of co-product, distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) generated from this processing sector. DDGS is sold as a commodity for animal feed and like corn; its bulk physical and chemical properties are quality attributes normally used in trading by merchandisers. Consistency in product quality have been cause for concern in the industry and the lack of standard methods for physical and chemical property determination does potentially confound the issue, especially when results of attributes measured by different methods have …

Physical And Flow Properties Of Regular And Reduced Fat Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Vykundeshwari Ganesan, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan

Kurt A. Rosentrater

With the remarkable growth of the US fuel ethanol industry in the past decade, large quantities of corn-based distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are now being produced. Flowability of DDGS has become a problem throughout the industry, as it is often restricted by caking and bridging during storage and transport. The objective of this study was to quantify physical and flow properties of commercially produced unmodified (9.3% db fat) and reduced fat (2.1% db) DDGS to determine if fat level affects flowability. The compressive modulus of reduced fat DDGS was 28.2% higher than unmodified DDGS, but shear stress resistance …

Extrusion Studies Of Aquaculture Feed Using Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles And Whey, Nehru Chevanan, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Three isocaloric (3.5 kcal/g) ingredient blends containing 20, 30, and 40% distiller-dried grains with solubles (DDGS) along with 5% whey were prepared with a net protein content adjusted to 28% (wet basis [wb]). Other ingredients in the blends included soy flour, corn flour, fish meal, vitamin, and mineral mix. These blends were extruded in a single-screw extruder at 15, 20, and 25% (wb) moisture content and at 130 and 160 rpm screw speeds. Compared to previous research, the durability and unit density of the extrudates in this study were found to increase substantially by the addition of whey to the …

A Treatise On The Application Of Lifecycle Management Principles In Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Israel S. Dunmade, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Life Cycle Management (LCM) is a systematic approach, mindset and culture that considers economic, social, and environmental factors among other factors in the decision making process throughout various business or organizational decisions that affect both inputs and outputs of a product or service life cycle. It is a product, process, or activity management system aimed at minimizing environmental and socio-economic burdens associated with an organization’s product or process during its entire life cycle and value chain. LCM’s application is gaining wider acceptance both in the corporate and governmental organizations as an approach to reduce ecological footprints and to improve the …

Effect Of Elusieve Fractionation On Physical Properties Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Kurt A. Rosentrater, Radhakrishnan Srinivasan

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn-based ethanol in the U.S. has been dramatically increasing in recent years, and consequently so has the quantity of coproduct materials generated from this processing sector. These streams are primarily utilized as livestock feed, and can partially offset the need for corn in feed rations. As the industry evolves, new technologies are being developed to improve the value proposition of the coproducts, especially distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). One of these is the Elusieve process, which combines sieving and air classification to accomplish fractionation of the DDGS into component-rich (i.e., protein, lipid, fiber) streams. Previous studies …

Cross-Sectional Staining And Surface Properties Of Ddgs Particles And Their Influence On Flowability, Rumela Bhadra, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan

Kurt A. Rosentrater

With the U.S. fuel ethanol industry projected to grow during the next several years, supplies of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are anticipated to continue to grow as well. DDGS is used primarily as livestock feed. Much of the DDGS must be shipped, often over large distances, outside the Corn Belt (which is where most of the corn-based ethanol plants are currently located). Stickiness and caking among particles is a common issue for DDGS, and it often leads to flowability problems. To address this, the objective of this study was to understand the cross-sectional and surface natures of DDGS …

Adhesion Of Jurkat Cells In Defined Media And Substrates, Sarah De Leo

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Examining The Effects Of Ethanol Processing And Drying Conditions On The Physical Properties Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Kurt A. Rosentrater, Brian A. Wrenn

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn-based ethanol in the U.S. has been dramatically increasing in recent years, and consequently so has the quantity of coproduct materials generated from this processing sector. These streams are primarily utilized as livestock feed, which partially offsets the need for corn in feed rations. Because of its use as an animal feed, considerable research has been conducted into the nutritional properties, and to some extent the physical properties, of commerciallyavailable distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). There are, however, occasions when the quality of coproducts is not consistent. Thus questions regarding the influence of production operations on …

Children's Acceptance, Nutritional, And Instrumental Evaluations Of Whole Grain And Soluble Fiber Enriched Foods, A. Toma, M. B. Omary, L. F. Marquart, E. A. Arndt, Kurt A. Rosentrater, B. Burns-Whitmore, L. Kessler, K. Hwan, A. Sandoval, A. Sung

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 report recommends 3 or more daily ounce-equivalents of whole grains (WG), and the FDA suggests consumption of 25 g of total dietary fiber (TDF) and 6 g of soluble fiber (SF) for a 2000-calorie diet. Efforts to increase the consumption of WG and SF among elementary school-aged children are needed. The objectives of this study were to examine the consumption of WG- and SF-enriched burritos and cookies among elementary school-aged children and to perform a quality evaluation of all products. Children in grades K to 6 from a local elementary school consumed control (CTR) …

Flowability Properties Of Commercial Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Rumela Bhadra, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), the major coproduct from the corn-based fuel ethanol industry, is primarily used as livestock feed. Due to high protein, fiber, and energy contents, there is a high demand for DDGS. Flowability of DDGS is often hindered due the phenomenon of caking. Shipping and handling of DDGS has thus become a major issue due to bridge formation between the DDGS particles. The objective of this investigation was to measure flowability characteristics of DDGS samples from five ethanol plants in the north central region of the United States. Carr and Jenike tests were performed and the …

Using The World Wide Web To Educate And Inform The Public About Risk And Agricultural Biotechnology, Douglas A. Golick, Robert D. Peterson, Leon G. Higley

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The University of Nebraska and AgBios, Inc. launched the AgBiosafety website (http://agbiosaftzy.unl.edu) with the purpose of educating the public about agricultural biotechnology risk and safezy issues through science-based content. This article discusses the creation ofthe website, its components, and data gathered from usage statistics and a web-delivered survey. Also included is a discussion of the results ofdata gathered and recommendations for future web-based educational efforts in biotechnology safety and risk assessment.

Retrofitting Tractors With Rollover Protective Structures: Perspective Of Equipment Dealers, Shalome M. Tonelli, Kelley J. Donham, Kerry Leedom-Larson, Wayne Sanderson, Mark A. Purschwitz

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

This study was one of a cluster of studies that originated via requests for proposals from the NIOSH National Agricultural Tractor Safety Initiative. The present study design consisted of several steps: (1) formation of an advisory group, (2) development and testing of a standard paper self-responding survey instrument, (3) sample selection of farm equipment dealers, (4) administration of the survey, (5) assessment and analysis of the survey, and (6) in-person response panel of dealers (n = 80) to review results of the questionnaire for further definition and sharpening of the recommendations from the survey. A key finding is that most …

Effects Of Ingredients And Extrusion Parameters On Properties Of Aquafeeds Containing Ddgs And Corn Starch, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, S. Kannadhason

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Isocaloric (3.05 kcal g-1) ingredient blends were factorially formulated using 3 levels each of DDGS (20, 25 and 30% db), protein (30, 32.5 and 35% db) and feed moisture content (25, 35 and 45% db), along with appropriate quantities of corn starch, soybean meal, fish meal, whey, vitamin and mineral mix to produce a balanced diet for tilapia feed. The ingredient blends were extruded using a laboratory-scale single screw extruder with varying screw speeds (100, 150 and 200 rpm) and extruder barrel temperatures (100, 125 and 150°C). The resulting extrudates were subjected to extensive analyses of physical properties, which included …

Performance Characteristics Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) Fed Diets Containing Graded Levels Of Fuel-Based Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles, Travis W. Schaeffer, Michael L. Brown, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

A feeding trial was performed to investigate levels of corn-based Distillers Dried Grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of fuel ethanol manufacturing, used as a nutrient source for juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three isocaloric (15.7±0.7 MJ kg-1 dry matter), isonitrogenous (29.6±1.0% crude protein) experimental diets were formulated to contain 20, 30 and 40% DDGS; a commercial diet containing fishmeal was used as a reference diet. Glass aquaria (110 L) were stocked with Nile tilapia (mean weight = 6.7 g) with four replicates per diet. Weight gains, conversion ratios and hepatosomatic indices did not significantly differ between fish fed 20% …

Effects Of Ingredients And Extrusion Parameters On Aquafeeds Containing Ddgs And Tapioca Starch, S. Kannadhason, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Isocaloric (3.05 kcal g-1) ingredient blends were factorially formulated using three levels each of DDGS (20, 25 and 30% db), protein (30, 32.5 and 35% db) and feed moisture content (25, 35 and 45% db), along with appropriate quantities of tapioca starch, soybean meal, fish meal, whey, vitamin and mineral mix to produce a balanced diet for tilapia feed. The ingredient blends were extruded using a laboratory-scale single screw extruder with varying screw speeds (100, 150 and 200 rpm) and extruder barrel temperatures (100, 125 and 150°C). The resulting extrudates were subjected to extensive analyses of physical properties, which included …

Quantifying Total And Sustainable Agricultural Biomass Resources In South Dakota—A Preliminary Assessment, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Dennis Todey, Russell Persyn

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Conversion of biomass is considered the next major advance in biorenewable fuels, energy, and products. Wholesale conversion to biomass utilization could result in removal of current crop residues from agricultural fields (on prime agricultural lands) or even implementation of different crops and cropping strategies (i.e., switchgrass on marginal lands). To date, the driver for biomass processing has been economics and limitations on the conversion of the lignocellulose. Over the last forty years significant investments and resultant changes in management practices in the agricultural sector have focused on soil and water conservation. One of the major efforts has focused on conservation-till …

Properties Of Solvent Extracted Low-Oil Corn Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Jennifer A. Saunders

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Corn-based ethanol is exponentially growing in the US, as is the need for valuable uses for coproducts of the production process, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Currently, DDGS is used as livestock feed, thereby replacing some corn components in animal diets. As the industry continues to grow, there will be an increased need to find additional uses for DDGS. Physical and chemical properties of coproduct streams are becoming increasingly investigated, as these characteristics affect many aspects of utilization, such as target species, optimal dietary substitution rates, transportation, flowability, and behavior during storage. Potential avenues for future use …

Effects Of Ingredients And Extrusion Parameters On Aquafeeds Containing Ddgs And Potato Starch, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, S. Kannadhason

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Isocaloric (3.05 kcal g-1) ingredient blends were factorially formulated using three levels each of DDGS (20, 25 and 30% db), protein (30, 32.5 and 35% db) and feed moisture content (25, 35 and 45% db), along with appropriate quantities of potato starch, soybean meal, fish meal, whey, vitamin and mineral mix to produce a balanced diet for tilapia feed. The ingredient blends were extruded using a laboratory-scale single screw extruder with varying screw speeds (100, 150 and 200 rpm) and extruder barrel temperatures (100, 125 and 150°C). The resulting extrudates were subjected to extensive analyses of physical properties, which included …

Design Properties For Molded, Corn-Based Ddgs-Filled Phenolic Resin, R. A. Tatara, Kurt A. Rosentrater, S. Suraparaju

Kurt A. Rosentrater

With the rapid growth in the ethanol fuel industry in recent years, considerable research is being devoted to maximizing the use of processing coproducts, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), typically for livestock diets. Because these residues contain high fiber levels, they may be amendable to incorporation into polymers as well, which is an option that could garner greater economic returns. Thus, the goal of this study was to demonstrate the viability of using corn-based DDGS as a biofiller with phenolic resin, in order to produce a novel biomaterial. DDGS was blended with phenolic resin at four levels …

Gathering Cows Using Virtual Fencing Methodologies, Dean M. Anderson, Marek Doniec, Carrick Detweiler, Iuliu Vesilescu, Daniela Rus, Barbara Nolen, Roy Libeau

CSE Conference and Workshop Papers

Free-ranging livestock are classically controlled by herders. Holding, moving, or gathering free-ranging cattle requires flexible husbandry practices for efficient and effective lowstress animal management. Behavioral theory and practical experience indicates cattle can be taught to respond to auditory cues. Preliminary research has demonstrated that cows can be gathered autonomously using recorded audio cues associated with manual gathering. However, efficient gathering requires movement in the proper direction. Therefore, we believe using audio cues administered from directional virtual fencing (DVF™) equipment can facilitate proper animal orientation and facilitate the gathering of animals with minimal human intervention. Results from applying directional audio cues …

Farming Systems Education: Case Study Of Swedish Test Pilots, Lennart Salomonsson, Anna Nilsson, Sofia Palmer, Adam Roigart, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

We describe and analyze a pedagogical experiment that introduced a broad and holistic perspective on complete farming systems, systemic learning tools, and a participatory learning strategy at an early stage in agronomy education. The paper describes the adventure of three students, who came from a conventional agronomy program at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), who were frustrated with the lack of integrated approaches to the study of agricultural systems and a strong focus on molecular-level processes in their first year of education. They encountered a narrow focus in most courses and the overall curricula of agricultural education that …