National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC)
Edwardsville, Illinois
Intern: Julie Sapp
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE)
The NCERC is a not-for-profit research center that concentrates on improving
fuel ethanol production from corn and improving the economics of the production
processing. The NCERC is the only pilot facility in the world that fully
emulates both the wet milling and dry-grinding processes. The facility
conducts both its own research as well as research on behalf of private clients. The
pilot plant can process up to 1,000 bushels of corn per week, while operating
either in a continuous mode or in a batch process mode.
The facility pays for hauling wastewater from its pilot plant to a nearby
municipality for treatment. The wastewater can’t be discharged
directly to SIUE’s wastewater treatment facility due to high levels of
BOD.
By reducing off-site wastewater treatment costs can potentially save the research
center over $40,000 per year.
Results:
The intern investigated two alternative treatment technologies that included:
- Constructing a natural wetland to effectively treat the effluent. A
consulting firm has been contacted to explore this alternative.
- Installing an aerobic digester to utilize bacteria to effectively reduce
the BOD levels. Methane produced by the aerobic digester could be used
for heat thus reducing the amount of natural gas used at the facility.
Both alternatives are currently being considered by the facility.
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