Advanced feed separation can help processors create higher-value fractions from suitable oilseed meals, spent grains, and other feed materials. ST Equipment & Technology uses dry electrostatic separation to separate particles based on differences in surface charge, without process water or chemical reagents.
Feed processors are continually looking for ways to recover more value from existing raw materials and byproducts. Oilseed meals, brewers’ grains, distillers’ grains, and other feed streams can contain protein, fiber, and other components with different commercial value.
Advanced feed separation provides another way to divide those components beyond conventional sorting by particle size or density.
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What Makes Feed Separation Technology Advanced?
Screens, sieves, and gravity-based equipment separate materials according to physical characteristics such as size or density. Electrostatic separation adds another mechanism by using differences in particle surface charge.
How Dry Material Separation Works
STET’s triboelectrostatic separator charges particles through particle-to-particle contact. Protein-rich and fiber-rich particles develop different electrical charges and move toward opposite electrodes while a high-speed belt continuously conveys material through the separator.
Because the separation step is dry, it does not require process water or chemical reagents. That also means the separation itself does not introduce a wastewater stream or an additional drying stage to remove process water.
Feed preparation still matters. Milling, drying, and deagglomeration may be required depending on the material, and STET evaluates those requirements through sample testing and pilot trials before plant design.
Where Can Advanced Feed Separation Create Value?
The opportunity depends on the composition of the feedstock and the product a processor wants to recover.
Protein Enrichment From Feed Byproducts
STET has applied electrostatic separation to materials including sunflower meal, canola meal, brewers’ grains, and distillers’ grains. Its animal-feed applications include separating protein-rich fractions from fiber-rich material to create products with greater potential value as feed ingredients.
Research on sunflower meal has shown substantial protein enrichment after electrostatic fractionation, and STET has also tested the process on other plant and animal feed materials. Exact protein concentration and recovery depend on the feedstock and operating conditions.
Quick Fact: STET lists processing capacities of up to 20 tons per hour for its animal-feed separator. Actual throughput depends on factors such as the feed material and bulk density.
A Dry Alternative to Wet Fractionation
For processors evaluating new animal feed processing equipment, dry electrostatic separation can reduce the need for water-handling infrastructure within the separation step.
That can be particularly useful where processors want to fractionate existing dry material without first creating a wet slurry that then needs to be dewatered or dried.
For more on dry processing in feed production, see our article on sustainable feed processing techniques to reduce waste and costs.
What Determines Whether Feed Separation Technology Is a Good Fit?
Electrostatic separation doesn’t produce the same result from every feedstock.
Material composition, moisture, particle size, degree of component liberation, and the desired finished-product specifications all influence separation performance. That is why testing the actual feed material is an important part of evaluating a project.
STET’s process includes bench-scale testing, pilot trials, optimization of preparation steps, plant design, and ongoing technical support.
Key Takeaways
- Advanced feed separation can separate suitable feed materials according to differences in particle surface charge.
- STET’s electrostatic separation technology operates without process water or chemical reagents.
- Applications include sunflower meal, canola meal, brewers’ grains, and distillers’ grains.
- Protein enrichment and product recovery depend on the characteristics of the specific feedstock.
- Sample testing and feed preparation help determine whether dry separation is appropriate for a particular application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Electrostatic Separation Chemically Change the Feed?
No. The STET process physically separates particles based on differences in charging behavior and does not require chemical reagents.
Can Any Feed Byproduct Be Processed?
Not necessarily. Moisture, particle size, composition, and the target product all affect suitability. Testing is needed to determine whether a particular material can be effectively separated.
Does the 20-Ton-Per-Hour Capacity Apply to Every Feed Material?
No. STET lists capacities of up to 20 tons per hour, but actual throughput depends on factors such as feed characteristics and bulk density.
Conclusion: Getting More From Existing Feed Streams
Advanced feed separation is attracting attention because it gives processors another way to recover useful fractions from existing feed materials without adding process water or chemical reagents.
For suitable feedstocks, dry electrostatic separation can help concentrate valuable components and create higher-value products. The business case ultimately depends on what is in the feed, what product the processor wants to make, and what preparation the material requires.
Evaluate Your Feed Material With STET
STET’s animal feed processing equipment can be evaluated for oilseed meals, spent grains, and other suitable animal-feed applications.
Contact the STET team to discuss your feed material, target product, and testing requirements.
