The effect of process variables during drying on the physical and chemical characteristics of corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) – Plant scale experiments

Corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) are highly valued as an animal feed for its nutrient content. The amount of wet distillers grains (WDG) and condensed distillers solubles (CDS) blended together during drying affects nutritive value and physical characteristics of DDGS. Effect of changing the ratio of WDG and CDS, and recycled DDGS during drying on particle size, particle size distribution, particle and bulk densities, color, chemical composition, and amino acid content was studied. Moisture content and particle size of DDGS decreased with decreasing amount of CDS added. About 80% of the particles were within a narrow size range (<1500 μm). Bulk density and tapped density of samples produced with different CDS content ranged from 420.5 to 458.1 and 498.8 to 544.3 kg/m3, respectively. True density decreased with reduction in CDS added. As the CDS content reduced, DDGS became lighter in color. Insoluble fiber contents (protein and insoluble fiber) and amino acids increased while fat, total soluble sugars and glycerol decreased as the CDS content added to WDG reduced. The correlation coefficient of individual chemical components with CDS was above 0.90. Results from this study will be helpful in predicting the physical and nutritive property changes due to variable ratios of blending CDS to WDG during the drying process.