Conversion of a high-solids saccharified corn mash to ethanol by continuous
fermentation and stripping was successfully demonstrated in a pilot plant
consuming 25 kg of corn per day. A mathematical model based on previous pil
ot plant results accurately predicts the specific growth rate obtained from
these latest results. This model was incorporated into a simulation of a c
omplete dry-grind corn-to-ethanol plant, and the cost of ethanol production
was compared with that of a conventional process. The results indicate a s
avings of $0.03 per gallon of ethanol produced by the stripping process. Th
e savings with stripping result from the capacity to ferment a more concent
rated corn mash so there is less water to remove downstream.