A Process for the Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction of Corn Oil from Dry Milled Corn Germ and Enzymatic Wet Milled Corn Germ (E-Germ)

A bench-scale aqueous enzymatic method was developed to extract corn oil from corn germ from either a commercial corn dry mill or corn germ from a newly-developed experimental enzymatic wet milling process (E-Germ). With both types of germs, no oil was extracted when acidic cellulase was the only enzyme used. Pre-treating dry milled corn germ by heating it in boiling water or microwave pretreatment, followed by enzymatic extraction with the acidic cellulase resulted in oil yields of about 43% and 57%, respectively. A two-step process, combining both acidic cellulase and alkaline protease treatments, with no heat pretreatment, achieved oil yields of 50–65% from dry milled corn germ and 80–90% from E-Germ. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.