Looking to increase distillers corn oil (DCO) yield, but not sure where to begin? Before diving into oil recovery and yields, start upstream—with the kernel of corn. Knowing how much oil is in your incoming corn is the foundation for identifying your plant’s true recovery opportunity.
Start by gathering 12 months of corn quality data—specifically, moisture and fat percentage (dry basis). Use our Oil Opportunity Calculator to analyze the theoretical oil input. Then compare that to your average oil yield over the same period. The difference? Your potential oil uplift.
Identifying the gap is just the beginning. Unlocking that oil takes a deep understanding of every part of the plant—from hammer mills to separators—and how they impact free oil availability and capture efficiency along with the potential impacts of chemistry.
Yes, it’s possible to collect samples, analyze flows, and make changes on your own. But optimizing oil yield isn’t just about measurements; it’s about understanding why the oil is being lost, how to fix it, and what to look for to ensure you are capturing the oil going forward. That’s where FQT comes in.
Our oil optimization studies go far beyond typical consulting. Our engineering team does a deep analytical and operational dive to:
1. Hammermills & Grind Quality
We assess grind profiles to determine if the hammermills are performing optimally.
2. Slurry & Liquefaction Performance
Are germ fragments being properly reduced to release oil? FQT helps you understand the optimal location within the process to break down the germ without impacting the rest of the plant process. Hammermill changes or Selective Grind Technology™ might be the answer to exposing more oil and starch.
3. Stillage Handling
Still seeing large germ fragments in stillage spins? That could point to a missed opportunity. Amplify™, our back-end grind system, can break down these fiber and germ fragments and release trapped/bound oil before those components are lost to the wet cake. When paired with DCO Tech™, Amplify™ breaks down the germ and fiber to release bound oil, then the oil is removed from the fiber with multi-stage washing. Our DCO Tech™ removes suspended solids from the evaporator stream, which can reduce fouling & decrease syrup viscosity all without the constant added chemistry (demulsifier and enzyme) cost.
4. Syrup Conditioning
Demulsifiers are costly and temperamental. Too much or not enough and you won’t see the desired result. FQT’s Overdrive™ syrup conditioning skid provides precise, efficient syrup conditioning for better separation—often reducing the need for expensive chemical additives.
5. Oil Separator Efficiency
Sampling light (oil) and heavy (de-oiled syrup) phases lets us evaluate separator performance. If oil is showing up in your deoiled syrup tank, FQT can help fine-tune centrifuge settings, process flow conditions, or recommend automation for continuous optimization among other proven improvements.
Other firms may offer a single component. We offer end-to-end expertise—engineering, data analysis, process optimization, and proven equipment solutions tailored to your plant.
If oil recovery is on your radar but time, staffing, or complexity are holding you back, don’t go it alone. FQT will take your team through a structured, data-backed oil evaluation to identify what’s working, what’s not, and how to get every last drop.
Let’s optimize your plant. Let’s get your oil.