Energy Cane Research Articles

A Comprehensive Study of Cellulignin Production from Sugarcane Bagasse, Sugarcane Straw, and Energy Cane for Advanced Biofuels: Liquor Composition and Cellulignin Characterizations

A Comprehensive Study of Cellulignin Production from Sugarcane Bagasse, Sugarcane Straw, and Energy Cane for Advanced Biofuels: Liquor Composition and Cellulignin Characterizations

Energy cane as a source of vegetable fiber and the generation of renewable energy for biomass boilers.

Energy cane as a source of vegetable fiber and the generation of renewable energy for biomass boilers.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Energy Cane Bagasse Hydrolysate: Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Energy Cane Bagasse Hydrolysate: Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties

A Multiomics Perspective on Plant Cell Wall-Degrading Enzyme Production: Insights from the Unexploited Fungus Trichoderma erinaceum.

Trichoderma erinaceum is a filamentous fungus that was isolated from decaying sugarcane straw at a Brazilian ethanol biorefinery. This fungus shows potential as a source of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). In this study, we conducted a comprehensive multiomics investigation of T. erinaceum to gain insights into its enzymatic capabilities and genetic makeup. Firstly, we performed genome sequencing and assembly, which resulted in the identification of 10,942 genes in the T. erinaceum genome. We then conducted transcriptomics and secretome analyses to map the gene expression patterns and identify the enzymes produced by T. erinaceum in the presence of different substrates such as glucose, microcrystalline cellulose, pretreated sugarcane straw, and pretreated energy cane bagasse. Our analyses revealed that T. erinaceum highly expresses genes directly related to lignocellulose degradation when grown on pretreated energy cane and sugarcane substrates. Furthermore, our secretome analysis identified 35 carbohydrate-active enzymes, primarily PCWDEs. To further explore the enzymatic capabilities of T. erinaceum, we selected a β-glucosidase from the secretome data for recombinant production in a fungal strain. The recombinant enzyme demonstrated superior performance in degrading cellobiose and laminaribiose compared to a well-known enzyme derived from Trichoderma reesei. Overall, this comprehensive study provides valuable insights into both the genetic patterns of T. erinaceum and its potential for lignocellulose degradation and enzyme production. The obtained genomic data can serve as an important resource for future genetic engineering efforts aimed at optimizing enzyme production from this fungus.

Assessment of energy cane bagasse-derived cellulosic microfiber hydrogels on the growth of potted chili peppers

Energy cane (Saccharum spp.) bagasse, a type of biomass waste, is often underutilized, burned, or left to dispose of itself. This research aimed to evaluate the potential of converting this bagasse into high-value cellulosic microfiber hydrogels (CMH) for water conservation and potted chili (Capsicum annuum) plant growth. CMH offers a biodegradable alternative to synthetic polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels and provides the dual benefit of improved water use efficiency and reduced environmental impact due to their ability to naturally break down in the soil. In this study, CMH and PA hydrogels were compared for water retention value (WRV), and reswelling kinetics (RK), as well as their effects on plant height, leaf count, root-to-shoot ratios (R:S ratio), and soil moisture retention. Two versions of CMH, CMH65 and CMH60, were prepared with varying cellulose-chitosan ratios: 65:35 and 60:40, respectively. The hydrogels were tested at four concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% w/w) by being mixed in Promix® soil. Observations were recorded over a 16-day period without additional water. Also, the WRV of hydrogels at 240 min and RK (10–180 min) were compared over three swelling-deswelling cycles. The PA hydrogel exhibited higher WRV (exceeding 450%) compared to CMH (45%). However, PA led to reduced plant height, leaf count, and R:S ratio when compared to higher concentrations of CMH65 and CMH60. In general, CMH60 (0.5% and 2%) exhibited superior plant growth. All hydrogels exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in WRV across successive cycles. Notably, during cycle 2, both CMH65 and CMH60 peaked in WRV at 10 and 20 min, respectively, compared to cycle 1. This study demonstrates the potential of bagasse-derived hydrogels as a value-added product for water conservation and crop growth.

Biomass and energy potential of Erianthus arundinaceus and Saccharum spontaneum-derived novel sugarcane hybrids in rainfed environments

BackgroundEnergy canes are viable feedstocks for biomass industries due to their high biomass production potential, lower susceptibility to insects and diseases, better ability to adapt to extreme conditions and clean bioenergy. Interspecific hybrids (ISH) and intergeneric hybrids (IGH) have great potential to meet the growing demand of biomass, biomass-derived energy and feedstock.ResultsIn this study, two types of energy canes, Type I and Type II, derived from S. spontaneum and E. arundinaceous background were evaluated for high biomass, fiber and bioenergy potential under subtropical climate along with the check varieties Co 0238 and CoS 767. Out of 18 energy canes studied, six energy canes, viz., SBIEC11008 (204.15 t/ha), SBIEC11005 (192.93 t/ha), SBIEC13008 (201.26 t/ha), SBIEC13009 (196.58 t/ha), SBIEC13002 (170.15 t/ha), and SBIEC13007 (173.76 t/ha), consistently outperformed the check varieties under Type-I, whereas in type-II, SBIEC11004 (225.78 t/ha), SBIEC11006 (184.89 t/ha), and SBIEC14006 (184.73 t/ha) energy canes produced significantly higher biomass than commercial checks, indicating their superior potential for cogeneration. Estimated energy output from the energy canes (700–1300 GJ/ha/year) exceeded the range of co-varieties (400–500 GJ/ha/year) and energy utilization efficiency in plants and ratoon crops for energy canes viz., SBIEC11008 (3%, 1.97%), SBIEC14006 (1.93%, 2.4%), SBIEC11005 (1.7%, 1.9%), and SBIEC11001 (1.01%, 1.03%), was higher than best checks Co 0238 (0.77, 0.9%). Additionally, energy canes SBIEC 13001 (22.35%), SBIEC 11008 (22.50%), SBIEC 14006 (28.54%), SBIEC 11004 (30.17%) and SBIEC 11001 (27.03%) had higher fiber contents than the co-varieties (12.45%).ConclusionThe study gives insight about the potential energy canes for higher biomass and energy value. These energy cane presents a vital option to meet the future demand of bioenergy, fiber and fodder for biomass due to their versatile capacity to grow easily under marginal lands without competing with cultivated land worldwide.

Liquid chromatographic fractionation of bio-oil from sugarcane bagasse: influence of heating rate on bio-oil yield and quality

Brazil stands out in the field of using biomass as a source of energy and biomaterials, due to its territorial extension, biodiversity and climatic conditions. In this sense, one can highlight the high potential of bio-products generated from biomass. This is the case of sugarcane bagasse, produced in large quantities allied to the sugar and alcohol industry. In Brazil, much research has been done to improve its amount of fiber, aiming at the production of alternative fuels and generating the so-called "energy cane". Thus, it was studied the use of sugarcane bagasse for the production of bio-oil through pyrolysis and the isolation of fractions for industrial application. A comparison was also made between two types of sugarcane, a commercial variety (Saccharum sp.) and a variety with some genetic improvement (Erianthus arundinaceus). The final pyrolysis temperature was set at 500 ° C by varying the heating rates (25, 45, and 65 ° C min-1). The bio-oils were fractionated using preparative liquid chromatography and their fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The fractionation of bio-oils increased the number of compounds identified by about 50%, besides allowing the isolation of apolar compounds. In addition, it was found that the genetic improved sugarcane presented higher bio-oil content, with higher hydrocarbon content, when compared to commercial sugarcane, demonstrating that the improvement process was efficient. Among the compounds identified were phenols, furfural derivatives and hydrocarbons, which indicates the potential use of bio-oil not only as bio-fuels, but also for industrial purposes.

Deciphering biomass contributing traits of interspecific and intergeneric hybrids derived from early generations hybrids of Saccharum and Erianthus Spp. as potential sources of biomass and bioenergy

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp., hybrids (2 n=100–130)) is one of the industrial crops cultivated mainly for sugar in the tropical and subtropical regions. It has earned the attention of many countries as a prominent energy crop owing to its exceptional biomass production potential. Energy cane is a hybrid of commercial and wild sugarcane, which was bred for high fiber content and low sucrose. Average energy cane biomass production potential is much higher, and brix levels are lower, compared with commercial sugarcane. A total of 138 Saccharum spp. hybrids representing 99 interspecific hybrids (ISH) and 39 intergeneric hybrids (IGH) derived from intercrossing of species clones of S. spontaneum, S. robustum and wild genus, Erianthus arundinaceus were evaluated along with the commercial hybrids for their cane growth and quality parameters, fibre and biomass traits. In general, the ISH and IGH clones recorded higher fibre per cent with maximum of 32% (ISH-562) and maximum biomass yield of 396.16 t/ha (ISH-571), lower values for quality characters such as juice brix 10.68% (ISH-571), sucrose 6.65% (ISH-579) and commercial cane sugar (CCS) 3.66% (ISH-579). Total biomass showed a significant positive correlation with the number of tillers (‘000/ha) at 120 days (r =0.176), number of shoots (‘000/ha) at 240 days (r = 0.129), number of stalks (‘000/ha) at 360 days (r = 0.249), cane height (r = 0.163) and single cane weight (SCW) (r = 0.508) and positive correlation with quality traits indicates the possibility of simultaneous improvement for biomass and quality traits. However, the fibre per cent has showed a significant negative correlation with quality traits viz., extraction % (r = −0.616), juice brix % (r = −0.419), sucrose % (r = −0.422), CCS % (r = −0.409), cane diameter (r = −0.600) and SCW (r = −0.475) suggests difficulty in combining both the traits. In the cluster analysis, the cluster III with 12 clones is more similar to commercial cultivars for juice quality (20.16% juice brix and 18.08% of sucrose) and cane traits, however the cluster V consist of 4 clones (ISH-557, ISH-563, ISH-571 and ISH-572) recorded highest total biomass yield of 368.72 t/ha and a mean fibre of 19.50% could be exploited for green energy purposeor as parental stocks in breeding programme.

Natural lignin modulators improve bagasse saccharification of sugarcane and energy cane in field trials

AbstractThe burgeoning cellulosic ethanol industry necessitates advancements in enzymatic saccharification, effective pretreatments for lignin removal, and the cultivation of crops more amenable to saccharification. Studies have demonstrated that natural inhibitors of lignin biosynthesis can enhance the saccharification of lignocellulose, even in tissues generated several months post‐treatment. In this study, we applied daidzin (a competitive inhibitor of coniferaldehyde dehydrogenase), piperonylic acid (a quasi‐irreversible inhibitor of cinnamate 4‐hydroxylase), and methylenedioxy cinnamic acid (a competitive inhibitor of 4‐coenzyme A ligase) to 60‐day‐old crops of two conventional Brazilian sugarcane cultivars and two energy cane clones, bred specifically for enhanced biomass production. The resultant biomasses were evaluated for lignin content and enzymatic saccharification efficiency without additional lignin‐removal pretreatments. The treatments amplified the production of fermentable sugars in both the sugarcane cultivars and energy cane clones. The most successful results softened the most recalcitrant lignocellulose to the level of the least recalcitrant of the biomasses tested. Interestingly, the softest material became even more susceptible to saccharification.

Biochar addition reduces N2O emissions in fertilized soils under energy cane cultivation

N2O emissions resulting from the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and vinasse represent the main sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in sugar-energy sector. Conversely, the application of biochar in soils has been worldwide recognized as an strategy to mitigate N2O emissions, although little is known about their effects on soils under energy cane production. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar addition as a strategy to mitigate soil N2O emissions in soil under energy cane cultivation, as well as to quantify the abundance of N2O-producing and N2O-reducing microbial guilds. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were: i) no N fertilization (control); ii) N fertilization; iii) N fertilization plus vinasse; iv) N fertilization plus biochar; v) N fertilization plus vinasse plus biochar. All treatments (except control) were balanced to receive the same amount of nutrients. Biochar was added at a rate of 5 g kg−1 of soil. Soil N2O emissions were quantified by static chambers for 78 days, and soil sampling were performed to determine chemical and microbiological attributes, including functional genes of the nitrogen cycle (AOA, AOB, nirK, nirS, nosZI and nosZII) by real-time PCR. Results indicated that vinasse addition increased N2O emissions. Conversely, the application of biochar reduced N2O emissions associated with the application of N fertilizer (56 %) and N fertilizer + vinasse (41 %). The high N2O emissions observed in vinasse treatment were directly correlated with nitrifier microorganisms (AOB and AOA), indicating that nitrification should be the main pathway of N2O emissions in this treatment. The production of energy cane biomass was similar between N fertilizer treatments. High N2O emission intensities (mg N2O g biomass−1) were obtained in treatments with vinasse application. This study concluded that biochar is an effficient strategy to mitigate N2O emissions, providing the first insights into how biochar affects the microbial community associated with N2O emissions from soil under energy cane cultivation.

EVALUATION OF SUGARCANE HYBRID CLONES ON WEED DYNAMICS, SUGAR QUALITY AND PLANT CROP PRODUCTIVITY AT BADEGGI, NIGERIA

Plant breeding programme develop varieties primarily to increase yield and resistance to diseases/insects with little emphasis on weeds dynamics. This study was conducted to evaluate sugarcane hybrid clones for weed dynamics, sugar quality and plant crop productivity at the Upland Sugarcane Experimental Field of National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria. A total of sixteen clones were planted on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the clones for some traits. Our results show that P. scrobiculatum (Linn.), S. pumila (Poir.), P. leucanthus (Schum &amp; Thonn), B. diffusa (L), H. suaveolens (Poit), C. esculentus (Linn.) and K. squamulata (Thorn.ex Vahl) were the major weed problems of sugarcane at Badeggi. Lower weed dry matter (0.18 g m-2), and taller plants (194.07 cm), higher cane yield (136.8 t ha-1) and Sugar yield (12.93 t ha-1) were found in BD -1098-003 m among the studied hybrids. BD 1098-005 m, BD 441-007 m and B 47419 possess higher fibre, these materials can be utilized for energy cane variety. Brix percent also varied among the clones with increase in crop age, which can be used as indicator for maturity. The results revealed that some weed species types and their duration of infestation are among the numerous factors responsible for the reduction in growth and yield attributes of sugarcane crop. The promising hybrids will be advance for more evaluation at different locations for yield and juice quality stability studies.

Identification of Cultured and Diazotrophic Bacterial Endophytes in Warm-Season Grasses

Endophytes can have positive effects on plant health and growth, but endophytes of warm-season grasses are largely understudied, and inocula are rarely applied to cultivated grasses. To identify endophytes in warm-season grasses, 35 endophytic bacterial isolates were cultured from the roots, rhizomes, and shoots of bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon), energy cane ( Saccharum spp.), Johnsongrass ( Sorghum halepense), napiergrass ( Cenchrus purpureus), perennial sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor × S. halepense), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), sorghum × sudangrass ( Sorghum × drummondii), and peanut (outgroup). Sequencing of the 16S rRNA fragment from the endophytes revealed that the bacterial sequences were similar to Bacillus spp. (19 isolates), Burkholderia spp. (4), Pantoea spp. (4), Pseudomonas spp. (3), Enterobacter spp. (2), Kosakonia spp . (2), and Sphingomonas sp. (1). To identify diazotrophic endophytes, DNA isolated from surface-disinfected tissue from warm-season grasses was used to amplify nifH. Bacteria containing nifH were similar to 13 genera, and sequences similar to Pseudolabrys sp. were present in the greatest number of warm-season grasses. Bacteria similar to Bradyrhizobium frederickii strain CNPSo 3447 were identified frequently from the leaves and roots of sorghum × sudangrass (and peanut roots). Using similarity to known nifH fragments, six genera were identified that had not been previously identified in grasses. Thus, a large number of endophytes were found in warm-season grasses and could enhance plant growth or grass nitrogen levels by using nitrogen fixation. [Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 “No Rights Reserved” license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2023.

Pyrolysis of Energy Cane Bagasse: Investigating Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Effect of Temperature on Volatile Products

Energy cane is a genotype derived from species of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum) with a lower sucrose content and higher fiber content for bioenergy purposes. It is a rustic plant that demands less fertile soils that do not compete with food crops. In this work, an analysis of energy cane bagasse pyrolysis products was performed, assessing the effect of reaction temperature and kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. Anhydrosugars, such as D-allose, were the primary compounds derived from the decomposition of energy cane at 500 °C. Methyl vinyl ketone and acetic acid were favored at 550 and 600 °C. At 650 °C, methyl glyoxal, acetaldehyde and hydrocarbons were favored. Among the hydrocarbons observed, butane, toluene and olefins such as 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-tridecene and 1-tetradecene were the most produced. The Friedman isoconversional method was able to determine the average activation energies in the ranges 113.7−149.4, 119.9−168.0, 149.3−196.4 and 170.1−2913.9 kJ mol−1 for the decomposition of, respectively, pseudo-extractives, pseudo-hemicellulose, pseudo-cellulose and pseudo-lignin. The thermodynamic parameters of activation were determined within the ranges of 131.0 to 507.6 kJ mol−1 for ΔH, 153.7 to 215.2 kJ mol−1 for ΔG and −35.5 to 508.8 J mol−1 K−1 for ΔS. This study is very encouraging for the cultivation and use of high-fiber-content energy cane bagasse, after sucrose extraction, to produce biofuels as an alternative to the current method of conversion into electricity by low-efficiency burning.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of novel energy cane accessions for sugar, bioenergy, 1 G, and 2 G ethanol production

Traditionally, the sugarcane breeding programs are focused on increasing sugar content, often at the expense of fiber content and biomass yield. However, with the growing interest in 2 G (cellulosic) ethanol and bioenergy production, there has been a paradigm shift toward quantitative parameters. This study investigated the qualitative and quantitative parameters of energy cane clones throughout the harvest season. It hypothesizes that juice composition, fiber content, and maturation curve will vary, reaching a point where these characteristics become more desirable for industrial processes. Three energy cane clones (C33, C34, and C35) derived from a breeding program at the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) were selected for evaluation alongside a commercial reference cultivar (IAC-942094). The results indicate that energy cane possesses significant potential for biofuel and energy production. Additionally, energy cane clones exhibit higher agricultural yields and greater production of sugars per unit area than traditional sugarcane. The high fiber content in energy cane clones, coupled with their agricultural productivity, makes them excellent sources of lignocellulosic material for both 1 G and 2 G ethanol production and cogeneration of electric energy. Energy cane clones C34 and C35, in particular, demonstrate the potential to increase 2 G ethanol production and the supply of electrical and thermal energy by up to 300% and 250%, respectively, compared to conventional sugarcane. These findings highlight the promising role of energy cane as a sustainable bioenergy production alternative, contributing to improved sustainability indices in the biofuel and biomass energy sectors.

Trichoderma longibrachiatum and thermothelomyces thermophilus co-culture: improvement the saccharification profile of different sugarcane bagasse varieties.

The aim of the present work was to perform the co-culture between Trichoderma longibrachiatum LMBC 172, a mesophilic fungus, with Thermothelomyces thermophilus LMBC 162, a thermophilic fungus, by submerged fermentation in a bioreactor. There was an increase in protein production, reaching the value of 35.60 ± 3.76µg/ml at 72h. An increase in the amount of proteins of 27.5% in relation to the isolated cultivation of T. longibrachiatum and 19.7% in comparison when T. thermophilus was isolated and cultivated. After that, the saccharification profile of three varieties of sugarcane (sugarcane in natura, culms of sugarcane SP80-3280, and culms of Energy cane) submitted intwo pretreatments (autohydrolysis and chemical) was performed. The (e)chemical pretreatment was the better in generating of fermentable sugars fromsugarcane bagasse and culms of Energy cane, while withthe autohydrolysis pretreatment wasobtained the better values to culms of SP80-3280 sugarcane. The sugars found were glucose, xylose, arabinose, and cellobiose. These results suggest that the co-culture between these microorganisms has the potential to produce an enzymatic cocktail with high performance in the hydrolysis of materials from the sugar-alcohol industry.

Towards a bioeconomy: How sugarcane fibre price structure stimulates farm-level decisions and sugarcane biorefinery feedstock supply

Biorefineries are fundamental to support the development of bio-based economies. Further development of sugarcane biorefineries in South Africa is likely to involve the use of sugarcane fibre as a feedstock. The current cane payment system incentivises growers to supply sugarcane with high sucrose yield per hectare; consequently, they are unlikely to produce energy cane cultivars that have high yields of fibre per hectare and lower sucrose yields. Because economies of scale are central to the economic viability of biorefinery investments, sugarcane biorefinery businesses may be willing to use price mechanisms to increase their supply of sugarcane fibre. This research is a case study for the Eston milling area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It demonstrates the potential impact of changes in the price paid for fibre on the farm-level decisions pertaining to the area planted with cane, the optimal choice of cultivars, and its implication for the quantities of sugar and fibre supplied. Optimisation mathematical models representing a “typical sugarcane farm” were constructed for three agricultural areas using a representative farm level linear programming approach. Each farm model provides a baseline scenario with supply from conventional cane varieties and an alternative scenario including a hypothetical cultivar, energy cane. It was found that the introduction of a composite fibre price results in expansion of the area under cane, modifies enterprise and cultivar selection and increases biomass availability, hence revitalising the sector. This informs policy makers and stakeholders to carefully consider the impact of introducing certain strategies and policies on biorefinery biomass suppliers.

Silicon mitigates iron deficiency in two energy cane cultivars by modulating physiological and nutritional mechanisms.

Alkaline soils with iron (Fe) deficiency are found in many regions of the world, and the use of silicon (Si) can mitigate the damages caused by such deficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Si in mitigating a moderate deficiency of Fe in two energy cane cultivars. Two experiments were performed, one with the VX2 cultivar and the other with the VX3 cultivar of energy cane, which were cultivated in pots with sand and a nutrient solution. In both experiments, treatments followed a factorial scheme 2x2, designed based on the sufficiency and deficiency of Fe, being combined with the absence or presence of Si (2.5 mmol L-1), disposed in a randomized blocks design with six replicates. In the condition of Fe sufficiency, plants were cultivated in a solution containing 368 µmol L-1 of Fe, while plants cultivated under deficiency were initially submitted to cultivation with a 54 µmol L-1 concentration of Fe for 30 days, and later, with Fe complete omission for 60 days. The supply of Si was carried out by applying 15 fertirrigations with Si (via root and leaf) during the initial stage of seedling development, and after transplanting, the nutrient solution was added daily (via root). Both cultivars of energy cane were sensitive to Fe deficiency in the absence of Si, impairing its growth by causing stress and pigment degradation, thus reducing the photosynthesis efficiency. The supply of Si mitigated the damages caused by Fe deficiency in both cultivars, by increasing Fe accumulation in new and intermediate leaves, stem, and roots in the VX2 cultivar, and in new, intermediate, and old leaves and stem in the VX3 cultivar, which in turn reduced stress and favored both the nutritional and photosynthesis efficiency, while increasing the dry matter production. Si by modulating physiological and nutritional mechanisms, mitigates Fe deficiency in two energy cane cultivars. It was concluded that Si can be used as a strategy to improve growth and nutrition of energy cane in environments that are susceptible to Fe deficiency.

Evaluating the Potential of Newly Developed Energy Cane Clones for First- and Second-Generation Ethanol Production

The rapid increases in fuel ethanol demand and food security concerns have driven the need for diverse feedstocks in the ethanol production process. Energy cane is an energy crop that is an ideal sustainable biofuel feedstock. The present study evaluated ethanol production of the juice and bagasse of two newly developed energy cane clones, TByEFC08-0035 and TByEFC10-0004. The results of the chemical composition analyses of the juice and bagasse samples revealed that the two energy cane clones contained high contents of both sucrose (15.36–17.95%) and fiber (13.44–24.16%). The maximum ethanol concentrations from the juice on a laboratory scale (87.10 g/L) and on an agronomic scale (1211.76 kg/ha) were recorded for TByEFC10-0004 fermented with a new isolate Kluyveromyces marxianus SJT83, whereas the maximum ethanol concentrations from bagasse on a laboratory scale (9.81 g/L) and on an agronomic scale (790.68 kg/ha) were reached with TByEFC08-0035 fermented with Scheffersomyces shehatae TTC79. The total ethanol yields from the juice and bagasse samples per cultivation area of both energy cane clones were in the range 1294.23–1469.14 kg/ha, being 1.70–1.93 and 1.08–1.23 times higher than the control energy cane Biotec2 variety and the commercial sugar cane Khon Kaen3 variety, respectively. This study revealed the potential of the energy cane clones TByEFC08-0035 and TByEFC10-0004 currently being developed as sugar and lignocellulose substrates for first- and second-generation ethanol industry applications.

Integration of Corn and Cane for Ethanol Production: Effects of Lactobacilli Contamination on Fermentative Parameters and Use of Ionizing Radiation Treatment for Disinfection

Recently, in Brazil, corn ethanol industries are being installed and the integration with sugar/energy-cane has been proposed, using bagasse for cogeneration and the juice to dilute the corn. However, this integration may have some limitations, such as the quality of the cane juice and potential contamination by microorganisms brought with the cane from the field. In this article, we first tested the effects of mixing energy cane juice with corn on fermentative parameters. We also assessed the effects of Lactobacilli. contamination on organic acids produced during the fermentation and fermentation parameters and proposed the use of ionizing radiation to replace antibiotics as a disinfection control method. Our results showed that mixing energy cane juice with corn does not have any negative effect on fermentation parameters, including ethanol production. The contamination with Lactobacilli. considerably increased the production of acetic, lactic, and succinic acid, reducing the pH and ethanol content from 89.2 g L−1 in the sterilized treatment to 72.9 g L−1 in the contaminated treatment. Therefore, for the integration between corn and cane to be applied on an industrial scale, it is essential to have effective disinfection before fermentation. Ionizing radiation (20 kGy) virtually disinfected the wort, showing itself to be a promising technology; however, an economic viability study for adopting it in the industry should be carried out.

Flujo de calor y capacidades calorífica específica en la etapa de deshidratación de la pirólisis de biomasas por análisis térmicos

This study aims to investigate the influence of the moisture of energy cane and coconut fiber on heat flow and specific heat capacity in the dehydration stage from the pyrolysis process. The experiments were carried out in a simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry analyzer using a heating rate of 20 K/min in an inert atmosphereThree decomposition stages were identified: dehydration (marked by an expressive endothermic peak), pyrolysis, and carbonization). From the analyses of the water contributions, it was observed that the heat flow from the heat capacity of remaining water (Qwc) is negligible compared to the heat flow from the water evaporation (Qwe), for both biomasses. Also, we calculated the heat flow from the heat capacity (Qb) and the experimental specific heat capacity (cp,b) of biomasses such as 686-2371 J/kg K and 1076-2113 J/kg K, respectively. Then, for the dehydration stage, third- and fourth-order theoretical polynomial equations have been proposed to predict the heat required for the biomass heating.