Ethanol maker Big River Resources will use first-of-its-kind technology at a facility under construction in western Illinois “to extract zein, a highly valuable corn protein that will be used for food and pharmaceutical products,” says the Associated Press. Big River is working in partnership with Prairie Gold, a patent-holder on technology to produce high-value corn products. The facility in Galva, IL, will use an extraction process that uses less energy and no chemicals and avoids fermentation that can cause distasteful flavors, says AP.
Zein makes up to 40 percent of the protein in corn. It “can be used for biodegradable plastics, paper coatings, food packaging, antioxidants, medical devices, pharmaceutical products, food and cosmetics,” says AP. Protein extraction is a complementary use to ethanol, which utilizes the starch in corn.