An improved dry
grind system and method for producing a
sugar stream from grains or similar
carbohydrate sources and / or residues, such as for
biofuel production, using membrane
filtration. In particular, a
sugar /
carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired
Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of
starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and / or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to
fermentation (or other
sugar conversion process) using membrane
filtration, with such sugar
stream being available for
biofuel production, e.g.,
alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g.,
corn kernel components, including
protein, oil and / or
fiber, prior to
fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and / or grain
component separation occurs on the front end of the
system and method.