# How Enzymes Help Turn Corn Into Ethanol More Efficiently > A process for making ethanol from starch by using specific enzymes to break down proteins, which helps the fermentation process run more smoothly. - **Patent:** US RE50567 - **Original title:** USRE50567E1 - Fermentation product production processes - **Owner:** Novozymes North America Inc - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, energy ## What it does This patent describes a method to improve the production of ethanol from starch-based materials like corn. It involves a specific sequence: first, liquefying starch using an alpha-amylase enzyme, then adding a protease enzyme to break down proteins in the mixture. By degrading these proteins before the saccharification step—where sugars are generated—the process becomes more efficient. Finally, the mixture is fermented by an organism to produce alcohol, which can then be distilled. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover processes that omit the specific protease treatment step before saccharification. - Does not cover production of ethanol from non-starch sources like cellulose or sugar cane juice. - Does not cover fermentation processes that do not use alpha-amylase for initial liquefaction. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in the specific timing of the protease addition. By treating the liquefied mash with a protease after liquefaction but before saccharification, the process clears away protein obstacles that typically hinder the efficiency of the sugar-generating enzymes. ## Real-world examples 1. Industrial corn-to-ethanol biorefineries 2. Biofuel production facilities using starch-containing agricultural waste ## Why it matters This technology is central to the fuel ethanol industry, which relies on maximizing yield from corn feedstocks. By optimizing the breakdown of proteins that would otherwise interfere with enzyme performance, this process allows plants to produce more fuel from the same amount of raw material, directly impacting the economics of renewable energy production. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Enzymes Help Turn Corn Into Ethanol More Efficiently cover? A process for making ethanol from starch by using specific enzymes to break down proteins, which helps the fermentation process run more smoothly. ### Who owns patent US RE50567? Novozymes North America Inc owns this patent, granted in 2025. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 2, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is central to the fuel ethanol industry, which relies on maximizing yield from corn feedstocks. By optimizing the breakdown of proteins that would otherwise interfere with enzyme performance, this process allows plants to produce more fuel from the same amount of raw material, directly impacting the economics of renewable energy production. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover processes that omit the specific protease treatment step before saccharification. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE50567/io-electric-toothbrush **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE50567 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Andrew Moyer Learned to Mass-Produce Penicillin](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2442141/vitamin-b12-isolation) — This 1948 patent details a method for growing the mold Penicillium in large vats using a corn steep liquor medium, which enabled the mass production of life-saving antibiotics. - [CRISPR Tools for Engineering Fungal Genomes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20170088845/vectors-and-methods-for-fungal-genome-engineering-by-crispr-cas9) — This patent describes a specific genetic tool, called an expression vector, designed to efficiently edit the DNA of fungi using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, which is useful for industrial applications like making biofuels or enzymes. - [How to Predict Protein Shapes Better Using Lab Tests and Computers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20210174903/enhanced-protein-structure-prediction-using-protein-homolog-discovery-and-constr) — This patent describes a method to improve predicting a protein's 3D shape by combining computer simulations with actual distance measurements from specific parts of the protein in a lab. - [How to Store Fragile Biological Materials Without Refrigeration](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE39497/epogen-epoetin-alfa) — A method for preserving unstable biological materials like proteins by trapping them in a solid, glass-like sugar or polymer matrix that prevents decay at room temperature. - [Making Chemicals from Carbon Dioxide and Steam Using Electricity](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20110132770/process-for-producing-compounds-of-the-cxhyoz-type-by-reduction-of-carbon-dioxid) — This patent describes a process that uses electricity to split steam and then reacts the resulting hydrogen with carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide to create various carbon-based compounds, like fuels or plastics.