New breakthrough on ethanol thin stillage promises savings of up to $800 million on energy and 10 billion gallons of water

In Iowa, researchers have developed a fungi-based process that could could save the ethanol industry up to $800 million in energy costs and $10 billion gallons per year in water usage. The process adds fungi to a byproduct known as “thin stillage” that allows the water content to be recycled. Previously, 50 percent of thin stillage was evaporated, primarily using natural gas. The researchers said that a 100 Mgy ethanol plant would invest $11 million to install the process but would see payback in six months.

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