Corn Use
Examples
The four major components of corn -- starch, protein, oil, and fiber -- can be used in hundreds of industries to create thousands of different products. The general types of products created by corn usage are outlined below.
STARCH
There are many food, drug, cosmetic, and industrial uses for corn starch. The starch can also be converted into dextrose and corn syrup, both of which have multiple consumer and industrial uses.
Some examples: batteries, bookbinding, papers, fireworks, lubricants, paints, oil refining, baby food, mustard, beer & ale, chewing gum, sauces & gravies, antibiotics, lipstick, lotions, soaps, and pet foods.
DEXTROSE
Dextrose is a pure crystalline sugar that is created in a reaction between corn starch and an enzyme. In addition to its food uses, dextrose has many pharmaceutical and industrial uses as
well. Dextrose, often referred to as corn sugar, is less sweet than sucrose, common table sugar.
Some examples: leather tanning, rubber, adhesives, biodegradable plastics, textiles, electroplating and galvanizing, carbonated beverages, chocolate, peanut butter, yeast, wine, condensed milk, doughnuts, coatings for pills, medicinal syrups, and intravenous injections.
CORN SYRUPS
Like dextrose, corn syrups are created by processing corn starch with acids or enzymes. Corn syrups also find their way into many industrial and medical products, in either its liquid or dried 
form. In addition to providing sweetness, they improve foods in other ways, such as keeping baked goods from drying out too quickly.
Some examples: shoe polish, rayon, theatrical makeup, plasticizing agents, fermentation processes, cereals, desserts, canned fruits & vegetables, maple syrup, marshmallows, frozen & dried eggs, and various snack foods.
SOLUBLES
Solubles are made from the water in which the corn is softened during the milling process. This steepwater is useful in the production of antibiotics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and yeast.
Some examples: paints & varnishes, insecticides, rubber substitutes, livestock feed, rust preventative, margarine, mayonnaise, cooking oil, salad dressings, vitamins, antibiotics, and soap.
PROTEIN & FIBER (GLUTEN & HULLS)
The protein in corn, called gluten, can be ground into gluten meal. Gluten meal is protein-rich and is used as animal feed primarily for poultry, swine and pet food. The fiber in corn, much of which comes from hulls, is made into a medium-energy, medium-protein feed product called corn gluten feed. It is used primarily in beef and dairy cattle rations.
GERM
The germ can be ground into meal and makes an excellent animal feed. About 25% of the germ is corn oil, which has food, drug, and industrial uses.