Crop Factors Influencing Ethanol Production from Sorghum Juice and Bagasse

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of two soil moisture levels (SM) (30% and 70% soil available water) and three harvests (90 days, 118 days, and 151 days after seeding) on sweet (S506) and fiber (B133) sorghum genotypes under rain-sheltered conditions. Juice and bagasse-derived ethanol and their sum (EtOH BJ , EtOH B , and EtOH J+B , respectively) were assessed. Water use efficiency (WUE) was determined for sorghum dry weight (DW) and EtOH J+B . S506 had similar DW, but higher sugar content than B133, resulting in higher EtOH J (+32%) and EtOH J+B (+9%). High SM-enhanced DW, juice and sugars content, determining a strong EtOH J+B increase (+99% vs. low SM). Late harvest enhanced DW and EtOH J+B (+107% vs. early harvest), despite decreasing extractives and increasing structural fiber components. Water use efficiency of EtOH J+B improved with high vs. low SM, although differences faded in late harvest. Upscale of EtOH J+B and WUE data indicated a range of 21,000-82,000 ha of sorghum cultivation and 60-117 Mm 3 of irrigation water, as amounts of resources needed to supply an 85,000 m 3 ·yr −1 bio-ethanol plant. This large variation in land and water needs depended on specific combinations between crop factors SM and harvests.

Review on the Use of Diesel–Biodiesel–Alcohol Blends in Compression Ignition Engines

“…In their study [51], Capecchi et al investigated the crop factors (soil moisture and harvests time) that influence ethanol production from two representative genotypes of biomass sorghum: sorghum juice (sweet) vs bagasse (fiber sorghum).…”

Characterization and effect of the use of safflower methyl ester and diesel blends in the compression ignition engine

“…It is expressed as the time between the start of the injection and the combustion. As soon as combustion begins, the pressure increases dramatically (Capecchi et al, 2017). This raises the temperature of the braking system and reduces the delay time.…”

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“…lower than those reported by Dávila-Gómez et al (2011), who recorded yields between 15,000 and 28,300 L ha -1 for sweet sorghum varieties. For theses reason, sweet sorghums have been preferred over forage or grain producing sorghums to bioethanol industry (Capecchi et al, 2017). In the evaluation of theoretical ethanol yield, significant differences were found among sorghum varieties.…”

“…Although ethanol experimental yield may differ from theoretical yield due to intrinsic factors during fermentation process, the different models used to estimate ethanol potential presented a high correlation (0.93<r<0.95) with real ethanol yield forrajeras osciló entre 10,160-14,500 L ha -1 , estos rendimientos son inferiores a los reportados por Dávila-Gómez et al (2011), quien obtuvo rendimientos de jugo entre 15,000-28,300 L ha -1 para variedades de sorgo dulce. Por tales motivos, se ha dado preferencia a las variedades de sorgo dulce en la industria de bioetanol sobre aquellas productoras de grano o forrajeras (Capecchi et al, 2017). Al calcular los rendimientos teóricos de etanol, se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las variedades de sorgo.…”