Abstract
The potential of sorghum grain in the production of bioethanol was determined in comparison to maize and as an alternative to it. The effects of the raw materials, the raw material cultivars, and the fermentation process on ethanol efficiency and volatile compound profile of the raw distillates were investigated. The ethanol yield proved to be strongly determined by the variety of the raw material and by the fermentation method. The SSF method with a weight to water ratio of 1:4 proved to be the most effective for ethanol production in the case of both maize and sorghum. The highest ethanol yield at 86.94% of the theoretical value, was obtained from maize; the value from sorghum was 80.15%. The fermentation method, though not the grain cultivar, had a significant effect on the volatile compound profile of the raw distillates. The raw distillates obtained using the SSF method at a ground grain to water ratio of 1:4 had the lowest concentration of esters and aldehydes. The average content of volatile compounds in the sorghum distillates was lower than in the maize distillates. This study emphasizes the great potential of sorghum, a maize alternative, as an energy plant in the distillery.
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