ABSTRACT
The production of corn-based ethanol in the United States is dramatically increasing, and consequently, so is the quantity of byproduct materials generated from this processing sector. These coproduct streams are currently often utilized as livestock feed, which is a route that provides ethanol processors with a revenue source and increases the pro„tability of the production process. With the construction and operation of many new plants in recent years, the residue has much potential for making energy. This option holds the promise of economic bene„t for corn processors, especially if the livestock feed market in some areas of the county becomes saturated with byproduct feeds. Anaerobic digestion has been successfully utilized to produce methane from a variety of food and organic processing residues, but has not yet been used much in the ethanol industry. This chapter will outline the origin of major ethanol coproducts, explain the anaerobic digestion process, and talk about the potential for utilization in the ethanol industry.
