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Protein Gum Extraction Using Green Solvents

Page history last edited by Keith Flanegan 7 years ago


Gum-X: Protein Gum Extraction Using Green Solvents

 

Background

Our team is developing a unique method to extract high-value "gums" from low-value agricultural residues using green (environmentally friendly) solvents. These extracted materials may be used as edible food and pellet binders, additives to drilling fluids, and biodegradable glues. 

 

Project Details

Student researchers will use Aspen Plus to design solvent recovery schemes and compare the system energy and solvent losses for several different solvents and solvent blends. We will also search for new solvent alternatives and compare them both in the laboratory and using simulation. 

 

Skills Development

  • Aspen Properties evaluation - how do you know that your simulation results are realistic?
  • Aspen Plus simulation - how do people really use Aspen to design things?
  • Distillation design techniques - tray types, design spec choices, "real world" considerations, modularization ideas
  • Introduction to laboratory methods for sugars and proteins
  • Business communication and report writing - how to be clear, concise, and effective 

 

Research Duties

  1. You will first learn the process chemistry and simulation methods from our team. Don't worry, you don't have to know everything before working on this project - just bring a can-do attitude!
  2. Next you will spend some time conducting simple lab experiments so you can see the real materials and processes. We think it is very important that your simulation efforts are grounded in a real-world feel for how materials behave. This gives you an internal sense for when your simulation is giving you bad information.
  3. Build a solvent treatment and recovery system in Aspen Plus. Our team includes engineers that have designed and operated industrial distillation columns, so we'll be around to guide your work.
  4. Compare many different solvents and solvent blends. Once you are on the team, we'll tell you which ones they are. You will study how much energy it takes to operate the system, what your solvent losses are, costs estimates, etc. 
  5. Learn "green chemistry". What makes a solvent environmentally friendly, anyway? Why are some solvents more desirable than others in a factory?  
  6. Report your findings. We prize good note taking, clear communication, and passionate people. 

 

Where is this work going? We are working with the United Soybean Board (USB) and a commercial aquaculture feed ingredient company. We hope that this work will result in commercially-viable process that they will add to their factory within the next few years. 

 

Research Team

You will be working with Keith Flanegan, PE and Tim Shenk, PhD. 

 

Keith is a registered professional engineer and founder of the company ideaCHEM, inc. He focuses on the development and commercialization of bioprocesses. Recent projects have included bio-solvents production, fermented soy protein, and corn ethanol plant optimization. 

 

Tim is an expert in polymer systems and an all around fun guy. This is a "bio-polymer" project, where we are extracting, purifying, and then using high-value, naturally-occurring biopolymers. You will learn a lot about materials and life working with this guy. 

 

For more details on this project, please contact Keith. His email is keith@ideachem.net 

 

 

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