Sustainable, Cost-Effective, and Feasible Solutions for the Treatment of Brewers� Spent Grains
MBAA TQ vol. 43, no. 3, 2006, pp.
199-202 |
VIEW ARTICLE
Kirsty V. Schwencke. Heineken Supply Chain,
Burgemeester Smeetsweg 1, 2382 PH, Zoeterwoude, The Netherlands.
Abstract
The best option, from an economical and sustainability perspective, to
dispose of spent grains is to sell it as cattle feed. However, this outlet is
not always possible in areas where there are no cattle or it is not economically
viable in places where the income from spent grains is low. For this reason,
Heineken has developed a straightforward and flexible process that separates
spent grains into two different fractions: proteins and fibers. The protein
fraction is rich in proteins and fats and low in crude fiber, which makes it
suitable as nonruminant animal feed (e.g., pigs, poultry, and fish). The
low-protein fiber fraction can be used for sustainable energy generation. The
process also contributes to reduction targets for carbon dioxide (CO(2)) emission
in line with the Kyoto agreement since it replaces long-cycle CO(2) with
short-cycle CO(2). Calculations show that the feasibility of the process is highly
dependent on initial investment cost, fuel price, and local circumstances, such
as spent grains price, income from the protein, and labor cost. However, a
sustainable, cost-effective, and feasible solution for every brewery is
available.
Keywords: by-products, carbon dioxide, fibers, proteins, separation,
spent grains, sustainability
S�ntesis
La mejor opci�n econ�mica y sustentable para eliminar el afrecho
(dreche) es mediante su venta para alimento de ganado. Sin embargo, este
procedimiento ni siempre es viable, como cuando el precio del afrecho es
demasiado bajo, o no hay ganado por cerca. Heineken ha desarrollado un
proceso sencillo y flexible para separar el afrecho en dos fracciones:
proteina y fibra. La fracci�n de prote�na es rica en prote�nas y grasa, y
baja en fibra cruda, lo que lo hace apropiado para alimento de animales no
rumiantes (cerdos, aves de corral y peces). La fracci�n de fibra, baja en
prote�nas, puede ser utilizada para la generaci�n de energ�a sustentable.
El proceso tambi�n ayuda bajar las emisiones de gas carb�nico (CO(2)), en
cumplimiento con el acuerdo de Kyoto, pues reemplaza CO(2) de ciclo largo
con CO(2) de ciclo corto. Se ha calculado que la factibilidad del proceso
depende fuertemente del costo de la inversi�n inicial, el precio de
combustible y condiciones locales, tales como el precio de afrecho, el
precio de prote�nas y el costo de mano de obra. Sin embargo, existe una
soluci�n potencialmente viable, sustentable y de bajo costo para cualquier
cervecer�a.
Palabras claves: productos secundarios, gas
carb�nico, fibras, prote�nas, separaci�n, afrecho (dreche),
sustentabilidad
