Current research is focused on developing a process to convert the cellulose and hemicellulose in distiller's grains into
fermentable sugars, increasing both ethanol yield and the amount of protein in the remaining solid product. The rheologic
properties of distiller's grain slurries were determined for concentrations of 21, 23, and 25%. Distiller's grain slurries
are non-Newtonian, heterogeneous fluids subject to particle settling. Traditional methods of viscosity measurement, such as
cone-and-plate and concentric cylinder viscometers, are not adequate for these fluids. A helical impeller viscometer was employed
to measure impeller torque over a range of rotational speeds. Newtonian and non-Newtonian calibration fluids were utilized
to obtain constants that relate shear stresses and shear rates to the experimental data. The Newtonian impeller constant,
c, was 151; the non-Newtonian shear rate constant,
k, was 10.30. Regression analysis of experimental data was utilized for comparison to power law, Herschel-Bulkley, and Casson
viscosity models with regression coefficients exceeding 0.99 in all cases.
Index Entries Distiller's grain slurries - rheologic properties - wet grains - calibration fluids - helical impeller