Mold Bran and Related Processes

An interesting contribution to this subject was made by Beckord, Kneen, and Lewis (12). These workers produced an amylolydic product by growing Bacillus subtilis on wheat bran moistened with a buffer solution. 

This medium was chosen so that the bran could be dried and preserved for use after growth of the organism to give a product similar to malt. They worked out the optimum conditions for growth and tested action on starch by measures of dextrinization and used yeast fermentation as an index of sugar production, tinder the best conditions their product was slightly better than barley njalt by both criteria. 

Under the sponsorship of O. P. R. D. (contract W. P. B. 54), the University of Nebraska undertook to develop a plant set-up for mold bran production. This project was carried out by L. M. Christensen, Kenneth J. Goering, G. M. Severson, and L. A. Underkofler. Experimentation was carried to the point at which a definite flow sheet for a small producing plant could be laid out. 

The general economic and operating aspects of the subject were covered by Boyer and Underkofler (21). They conclude that costs of malt and mold bran are comparable and that there is a gain in fermentation tinie and an increase in yiold when the bran is used. Christensen (27) has 

Industrial production of glycerol from fermentation has not yet become an actuality in the United States, but some of the processes described above have merit. With the coming of more normal economic conditions and when lower cost sugar becomes available in the form of molasses, or otherwise, fermentation glycerol might become a commercial possibility. 

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