C. D. THORNTON (1); (1) Clemson University, La France, SC, U.S.A.

Poster

Spent grains, yeast, and dissolved carbon and nitrogen produced during brewing are either disposed of at cost or given away for “free” (excluding the labor involved in this transaction). These wastes contain valuable nutrients that can be recovered for the sustainable production of feed, fuel, and organic soil amendments, as well as generating a revenue stream. Waste is a sign of an inefficient process and a resource misused. The Brewcovery process developed by Clemson University Biosystems Engineering and Sustainable Agriculture graduate students uses novel bioprocessing technology to bioaccumulate proteins and lipids from brewery effluent and solid waste using a combination of black soldier fly digestion and heterotrophic production of the microalgae Chlorella protothecoides. For every 100 tons of spent grain, the Brewcovery process yields 600 gal of lipid for biodiesel production, 4 tons of concentrated protein meal for livestock feed, and up to 15 tons of organic soil amendment with an N-P-K value of 4-2-3. The process also reduces the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions during conventional composting or digestion. Brewcovery proposes use of these products in on-farm applications for livestock feed, energy production, and agricultural production of grains, hops, and energy crops.

C. David Thornton is a bioprocess engineer with 10 years of experience in biofuels and brewery design. David has constructed 26 biodiesel and ethanol facilities worldwide and launched a handful of brewery-related businesses providing essential brewing ingredients to breweries in the southeast. Additionally David coordinates the sustainable biofuels program at Clemson University and has taught the Science of Beer for three years. David is currently enrolled as a graduate student at Clemson University in biosystems engineering.

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