A kernel of corn can become much more than food.
At Primient’s corn wet milling facility in Decatur, Illinois, corn is transformed into ingredients used in products ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to drywall, insulation and fireworks.
Jared Collier, operations manager at the Decatur facility, said the refining process begins by soaking corn in water to soften each kernel before it is ground and separated into its individual components.
One of the most valuable products is corn starch, which serves as the foundation for hundreds of food and industrial applications.
“That building block can be broken down or converted into many other things,” Collier said. “There are versions of corn starch based on end use.”
Depending on the application, starch may be chemically or enzymatically modified or converted into dextrose for food products.
Some of the most surprising uses are found outside the grocery store. Corn starch is used in the cardboard and binding materials that help hold fireworks together, while industrial starch is also found in drywall, home insulation and pharmaceutical products.
Collier said demand for renewable, plant-based materials continues to drive interest in corn-derived ingredients.
“The market as a whole is interested in renewable and natural-based sources for things,” he said. “Corn is a great source for that.”
Most of Primient’s products are distributed throughout the United States, although some specialty ingredients are exported to international markets.
Collier also highlighted the efficiency of the refining process. He said approximately 99.7% of every corn kernel is converted into useful products, with very little material going to waste.
From thickening gravy to helping manufacture building materials and consumer goods, Collier said corn refining demonstrates how a single crop can supply ingredients for thousands of products people use every day while maximizing nearly every part of the kernel.
