Higher Alcohol Yield Research Articles

Hydroxyapatite nanowires rich in [Ca-O-P] sites for ethanol direct coupling showing high C6-12 alcohol yield.

Herein, we have shown that the [Ca-O-P] sites exposed on hydroxyapatite are clearly responsible for C-C formation in ethanol direct-coupling, and their high density accelerates the C-C coupling rate and boosts C6-12 alcohol production. Notably, nanowire-like hydroxyapatite exhibited 30.4% selectivity to n-butanol and 63.9% selectivity to C6-12OH at a conversion of 45.7% at 325 °C, and thereby close to 30% yield of C6-12OH, which is greatly higher than that using the state-of-the-art catalysts (6%).

Evaluation of fermentation potential of wild and UV-mutated yeasts screened from traditional murcha

Murcha (an amylolytic starter) from different parts of Eastern Nepal were screened for fermentative yeasts. The most potential one was UV-mutated (8W lamp at λ = 254 nm and an intensity of 44.21 Wm-2 for 5-50 s) to study the effect of mutation on growth and fermentation properties. Respiratory-deficient mutants (RDMs) that resulted from the mutation were identified by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) overlay technique and replica-plated for further isolation. Cell growth, substrate utilization, and ethanol yield of the mutants were compared with normal cells by carrying out fermentation in high-test cane molasses broth of 30 °Bx. An exhaustive screening of the samples resulted in only two murcha viz., from Laxmimarga (LM) and Udayapur (UD), having the desirable fermentation properties. UV-mutation study of UD and LM yeasts (both identified as strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae) showed 8-12% survival and ~ 22% RDMs yield of the survived cells. Out of the 8 randomly selected RDMs, only UDm4 (colony No. 4 from UD) showed fermentation properties worth further investigation. Comparison of UD, LM and UDm4 by fermenting molasses (high test) broth of 30°Bx showed the least growth of UDm4 but the highest alcohol yield (9% and 16% more compared to UD and LM, respectively). The present finding indicates that it is possible to improve fermentation properties of feral yeasts from murcha by relatively simple UV-mutation approach. Finding the right mutant (the selective screening part), however, may involve considerable time and effort.

Correlating the Surface Basicity of Metal Oxides with Photocatalytic Hydroxylation of Boronic Acids to Alcohols.

Photoredox catalysis provides opportunities in harnessing clean and green resources such as sunlight and O2 , while the acid and base surface sites of metal oxides are critical for industrial catalysis such as oil cracking. The contribution of metal oxide surfaces towards photocatalytic aerobic reactions was elucidated, as demonstrated through the hydroxylation of boronic acids to alcohols. The strength and proximity of the surface base sites appeared to be two key factors in driving the reaction; basic and amphoteric oxides such as MgO, TiO2 , ZnO, and Al2 O3 enabled high alcohol yields, while acidic oxides such as SiO2 and B2 O3 gave only low yields. The reaction is tunable to different irradiation sources by merely selecting photosensitizers of compatible excitation wavelengths. Such surface complexation mechanisms between reactants and earth abundant materials can be effectively utilized to achieve a wider range of photoredox reactions.

Correlating the Surface Basicity of Metal Oxides with Photocatalytic Hydroxylation of Boronic Acids to Alcohols

AbstractPhotoredox catalysis provides opportunities in harnessing clean and green resources such as sunlight and O2, while the acid and base surface sites of metal oxides are critical for industrial catalysis such as oil cracking. The contribution of metal oxide surfaces towards photocatalytic aerobic reactions was elucidated, as demonstrated through the hydroxylation of boronic acids to alcohols. The strength and proximity of the surface base sites appeared to be two key factors in driving the reaction; basic and amphoteric oxides such as MgO, TiO2, ZnO, and Al2O3 enabled high alcohol yields, while acidic oxides such as SiO2 and B2O3 gave only low yields. The reaction is tunable to different irradiation sources by merely selecting photosensitizers of compatible excitation wavelengths. Such surface complexation mechanisms between reactants and earth abundant materials can be effectively utilized to achieve a wider range of photoredox reactions.

Вплив температури на зброджування високогустинного сусла

Значне збільшення вартості енергоресурсів сприяло розвитку сучасних енергоощадних технологій. Для виготовлення пива затрачається велика кількість енергії та теплоносіїв на стадії приготування сусла та холодоагентів на стадії бродіння. В умовах енергетичної кризи та великої конкуренції серед виробників виникає потреба запроваджувати нові, енергоощадні технології, зокрема високогустинне пивоваріння. Потенційні переваги технології високогустинного пивоваріння над звичайною технологією включають також значну економію води, більшу кількість спирту і зниження витрат енергії та праці, менші капітальні витрати. Проте, переваги високогустинного пивоваріння стають очевидними, коли тривалість бродіння залишається помірною, а життєздатність дріжджів та смак пива є адекватними. Ці показники в значній мірі залежать від параметрів процесу головного бродіння, зокрема від температури. В роботі досліджено вплив температури головного бродіння 9, 12, 15 і 18 °С на зброджування високогустинного сусла концентрацією 16% сухих речовин та фізіологічні властивості дріжджів. Для досліджень використовували дріжджі низового бродіння раси W-34/70. Тривалість бродіння становила 9 діб. Встановлено, що при традиційній температурі бродіння 9 °С процес відбувається повільно та припиняється передчасно. Проведення бродіння при 18 °С дозволяє досягти високого ступеня зброджування, проте погіршуються фізіологічні властивості дріжджів, зокрема знижується вміст клітин з глікогеном та погіршуються флокуляційні властивості дріжджів. Температура бродіння практично не впливала на вміст нежиттєздатних дріжджових клітин. Проте їх кількість була дещо вищою від значення, якого дотримуються на пивоварних підприємствах, що зумовлено впливом осмотичного та етанольного стресу. Оптимальна температура головного бродіння повинна знаходитись в межах 12–15 °С. За цих значень температур досягається висока бродильна активність дріжджів, ступінь зброджування пива та зберігаються хороші фізіологічні властивості дріжджів, а вміст віцинальних дикетонів не перевищує гранично-допустимої концентрації для молодого пива.

Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol with Recyclable Al–Zr@Fe Mixed Oxides

AbstractA series of magnetic, acid/base bifunctional Al–Zr@Fe3O4 catalysts were successfully prepared by a facile coprecipitation method and utilized in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of furfural to furfuryl alcohol with 2‐propanol as hydrogen source. The physicochemical properties and morphologies of the as‐prepared catalysts were characterized by various techniques, including XRD analysis, N2 physisorption, vibrating sample magnetometry, thermal gravimetry analysis, X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, NH3/CO2 temperature‐programmed desorption, SEM, and TEM. The Al7Zr3@Fe3O4(1/1) catalyst with a Al3+/Zr4+/Fe3O4 molar ratio of 21:9:3 was found to exhibit a high furfuryl alcohol yield of 90.5 % in the CTH from furfural at 180 °C after 4 h with a comparatively low activation energy of 45.3 kJ mol−1, as calculated from the Arrhenius equation. Moreover, leaching and recyclability tests confirmed Al7Zr3@Fe3O4(1/1) to function as a heterogeneous catalyst that could be reused for at least five consecutive reaction runs without significant loss of catalytic activity after simple recovery by an external magnet. Notably, the catalyst proved also efficient for hydrogenation of other biomass‐derived furanic aldehydes.

Structure-dependent selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde over high-surface-area CeO2-ZrO2 composites supported Pt nanoparticles

Tetravalent metal oxides, such as ceria and zirconia, are widely used as support materials in a broad range of heterogeneous catalytic processes. Herein, high-surface-area CeO2-ZrO2 composite supports with micro/mesoprous structures were first fabricated successfully by a low temperature solution-phase method without the use of any additional templates and surfactants and resulting supported platinum nanoparticles were employed in liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol, a key reaction for the production of important chemicals. It was found that the component of CeO2-ZrO2 composites strongly influenced surface structures of catalysts, and consequently determined the nature of platinum species and the catalytic properties of catalysts. When platinum was dispersed on the CeO2-ZrO2 composite with the Ce/Zr molar ratio of 1:1, a high cinnamyl alcohol yield of 89%, together with an extremely high turnover frequency value of 10423h–1, could be achieved without the use of additional alkali. Such high catalytic performance, which was superior to those of most known supported Pt-based catalysts previously reported, was mainly attributable to the synergism between electron-rich metallic Pt species and surface defects (i.e., Ce3+ species and oxygen vacancies), thereby greatly promoting the chemisorption and activation of carbonyl group in cinnamaldehyde. Moreover, the porous network of CeO2-ZrO2 composites is beneficial to the stabilization of Pt nanoparticles, thereby preventing the leaching and the growth of Pt particles in the course of reaction. This work offers a better understanding of the role of high-surface-area porous CeO2-ZrO2 composite supports for highly efficient selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in supported precious-metal-based catalysts.

Effective NbOx-Modified Ir/SiO2 Catalyst for Selective Gas-Phase Hydrogenation of Crotonaldehyde to Crotyl Alcohol

NbOx-modified Ir/SiO2 catalyst (Ir-NbOx/SiO2) showed high activity and selectivity for gas-phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde, and Ir-NbOx/SiO2 with Nb/Ir molar ratio of 0.5 (Ir-NbOx/SiO2 (Nb/Ir = 0.5)) provided high crotyl alcohol yield of 87%. This is the highest crotyl alcohol yield among those in gas-phase over reported heterogeneous catalysts. The activities (TOF per surface Ir atom) at low conversion level (40%, W/F = 0.37 gcat·h·mol–1) and high conversion level (97%, W/F = 2.2 gcat·h·mol–1) were calculated to be 0.21 and 0.08 s–1, which are more than 3 times higher than those over reported heterogeneous catalysts. High activity and high yield are derived from the combination of Ir metal with NbOx species. Based on the spectroscopic and kinetic studies, the high activity and high selectivity are attributed to strong adsorption of crotonaldehyde on NbOx species by the high Lewis acidity, and suppression of over-hydrogenation of the produced crotyl alcohol at high conversion level. It is suggested ...

Recent progress in sweetpotato breeding and cultivars for diverse applications in Japan.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is an outcrossing hexaploid that is cultivated in the tropics and warm-temperate regions of the world. Sweetpotato has played an important role as a famine-relief crop during its long history and has recently been reevaluated as a health-promoting food. In Japan, sweetpotato is used for a wide range of applications, such as table use, processed foods, and alcohol and starch production, and two groups at National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) undertake the breeding of cultivars for these applications. Sweetpotato breeders utilize breeding processes such as grafting for flower induction and the identification of incompatibility groups before crossing to conquer problems peculiar to sweetpotato. For table use, new cultivars with high sugar content were released recently and have become popular among Japanese consumers. New cultivars with high anthocyanin or β-carotene content were released for processed foods and use as colorants. As raw materials, new cultivars with high alcohol yield were released for the production of shochu spirits. In addition, new cultivars with high starch yield and a cultivar containing starch with excellent cold-storage ability were released for starch production. This review deals with recent progress in sweetpotato breeding and cultivars for diverse applications in Japan.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the Production of Whisk(e)y

Whisk(e)y is a major global distilled spirit beverage. Whiskies are produced from cereal starches that are saccharified, fermented and distilled prior to spirit maturation. The strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae employed in whisky fermentations is crucially important not only in terms of ethanol yields, but also for production of minor yeast metabolites which collectively contribute to development of spirit flavour and aroma characteristics. Distillers must therefore pay very careful attention to the strain of yeast exploited to ensure consistency of fermentation performance and spirit congener profiles. In the Scotch whisky industry, initiatives to address sustainability issues facing the industry (for example, reduced energy and water usage) have resulted in a growing awareness regarding criteria for selecting new distilling yeasts with improved efficiency. For example, there is now a desire for Scotch whisky distilling yeasts to perform under more challenging conditions such as high gravity wort fermentations. This article highlights the important roles of S. cerevisiae strains in whisky production (with particular emphasis on Scotch) and describes key fermentation performance attributes sought in distiller’s yeast, such as high alcohol yields, stress tolerance and desirable congener profiles. We hope that the information herein will be useful for whisky producers and yeast suppliers in selecting new distilling strains of S. cerevisiae, and for the scientific community to stimulate further research in this area.

Variation in grain size and shape in a population of hull-less barley and its influence on yield and quality traits

SUMMARYThirty-seven lines from a population derived from the hull-less barley cultivar, Penthouse, were grown in a replicated trial over three seasons and assessed for grain yield. Following harvest, a rapid test to measure grain dimensions was applied to all samples, to look for novel variation in grain size and shape, as a possible way of detecting mutations. A range of grain and malt quality traits was also measured in two of the seasons, to detect genotype × season interactions and determine relationships between the measured traits. There were significant differences between years for all traits and between genotypes for most. Genotype × season interaction was significant for grain dimensions and some malting traits, but a correlation between malting quality and grain dimensions was only observed in one season. Line 30 showed very high yield potential in a comparatively wet season and gave a higher alcohol yield per unit area than a hulled control variety, while lines 21 and 33 contained putative additional mutations. Line 21, previously observed to have higher enzyme activity, appeared to contain an additional dwarfing gene and was characterized by smaller grain, later ear emergence and lower yield. Line 33, with malting potential, showed considerably altered grain length to width ratio and will be further investigated as a possible globosum type.

Enhanced Sugar Alcohol Production from Cellulose by Pretreatment with Mixed Ball-Milling and Solid Acids

Efficient pretreatment is the key step in catalytic biomass conversion. Herein, a mixed ball-milling method was used to pretreat cellulose with a solid catalyst. The method was tested with solid acid and commercial 5 wt% Ru/C in water, and the effect of pretreatment on yield was measured by the hydrolytic-hydrogenation of cellulose to sugar alcohols, which are the platform compounds for the production of gasoline and fine chemicals. The influence of ball-milling mode, time, and reaction parameters was studied. The properties of cellulose and the catalyst were also analyzed before and after treatment. The yield of sugar alcohols reached 90.3% at 463 K with amorphous zirconium phosphate (ZrP) and Ru/C and a mixed ball-milling time of 2 h. The high sugar alcohol yield was achieved 12 times faster than with the single ball-milling method under the same reaction conditions for 24 h. This effect is ascribed to the enhanced contact between cellulose and catalyst, which promotes the rate-determined cellulose depolymerization to obtain high sugar alcohols yield.

Stability, across environments, of grain and alcohol yield, in soft wheat varieties grown for grain distilling or bioethanol production

Soft-milling wheat has potential use for both grain whisky distilling and bioethanol production. Varietal comparisons over wide-ranging environments would permit assessment of both grain and alcohol yield potential and also permit the stability across environments, for these parameters, to be compared. For 12 varieties, analysis of variance showed highly significant effects of variety, site, season and fertiliser application on grain and alcohol yield. There were also significant interactions between these factors and, consequently, varieties varied in stability across environments as well as in mean values for the parameters assessed. Alcohol production per hectare was affected more strongly by variation in grain yield than alcohol yield, but increasing grain protein content reduced alcohol yield and, therefore, utility for grain distilling. To maximise energy production, the best varieties for bioethanol would combine high and stable grain yield with slower reduction of alcohol yield as grain protein increases. For grain distilling, where the energy balance is less important, high alcohol yield will remain the key factor. Data derived using near infrared spectroscopy can be valuable in assessing stability of quality traits across environments.

焼酎もろみから分離した酵母（MF062）の工場規模での実用性評価と特性把握

A commercial scale for shochu production tests was carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae "Heisei Miyazaki Yeast" (MF062), which was selected for its superior ability in terms of alcohol fermentation and aromatic ingredient generation among 272 wild yeasts isolated from the shochu mash of shochu breweries. Alcohol yield and general components in shochu production using MF062 were the same as those in industrial yeasts like "Miyazaki Yeast" (MK021) in seven shochu breweries, namely, 3 sweet potato shochu and 4 barley shochu breweries. Five series of sashimoto were also performed with constant high alcohol yield. Shochu produced using MF062 was awarded high scores in the sensory tests. Investigation of the relations between sensory tests and higher alcohol (n-propyl alcohol(P), i-butyl alcohol(B), and i-amyl alcohol(A)) in shochu showed that shochu with smaller A/P and A/(P+B) received better evaluations. Shochu made using MF062 received high evaluations because MF062 could produce a suitable ratio of higher alcohol. From the above results, it was confirmed that MF062 could be used for commercial production of shochu just the same as with commercial strains which have excellent brewing properties.

Sunflower oil to green diesel over Raney-type Ni-catalyst

There are intensive efforts for reforming triglycerides to fuels. A non-pyrophoric Raney nickel type catalyst was investigated in the hydroconversion of sunflower oil. The catalyst was also tested in the transformation of octanoic acid as a model compound at 21bar in temperature range of 280–340°C. It was found that alumina supported Ni catalysts (one of them is non-pyrophoric Raney type Ni) selectively catalyze the hydrodecarbonylation and decarboxylation of fatty acids being corrosive intermediates of trigliceride deoxygenation process. Beside the main hydrodecarbonylation reaction Ni-containing catalysts are active in disadvantageous side reactions such as CO methanization and hydrogenolysis of paraffins producing methane byproduct in high concentration with extensive hydrogen consumption. Non-pyrophoric Raney nickel catalyst is more active than Ni/Al2O3 samples especially in the side reactions. To eliminate the active sites responsible for the side reactions the catalyst was modified with tin and lead. It turned out that poisoning either with Sn or Pb did not improve selectivity. Finally addition of In2O3 proved to be effective by directing the transformation to a different deoxygenating reaction pathway resulting in high alcohol yields.

Relationships between disease control, green leaf duration, grain quality and the production of alcohol from winter wheat

Since demand for distilling wheat is expected to increase rapidly as a result of the development of the bioethanol industry, efficient production will become of increasing importance. Achieving this will require an understanding of the agronomic factors that influence both grain yield and alcohol yield. Therefore five field experiments using the winter distilling wheat variety Glasgow were conducted over three seasons (2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009) to study the relationships between foliar disease and alcohol yield. There was a significant relationship between alcohol yield and the severity of the disease septoria leaf blotch (Septoria tritici), which was present in the experiments from natural infection. Retention of green flag leaf area as affected by disease control following fungicide application was also shown to be important for achieving high alcohol yields. Measurements of grain quality showed that high thousand-grain weight and low grain protein concentration were significantly related to increased alcohol yield. The experiments showed the importance of disease management to protect alcohol yields in the distilling wheat crop. Fungicides that provide greater disease control and improved green leaf retention are likely to be beneficial to alcohol yield.

Trends and challenges in the microbial production of lignocellulosic bioalcohol fuels

Bioalcohols produced by microorganisms from renewable materials are promising substitutes for traditional fuels derived from fossil sources. For several years already ethanol is produced in large amounts from feedstocks such as cereals or sugar cane and used as a blend for gasoline or even as a pure biofuel. However, alcohols with longer carbon chains like butanol have even more suitable properties and would better fit with the current fuel distribution infrastructure. Moreover, ethical concerns contradict the use of food and feed products as a biofuel source. Lignocellulosic biomass, especially when considered as a waste material offers an attractive alternative. However, the recalcitrance of these materials and the inability of microorganisms to efficiently ferment lignocellulosic hydrolysates still prevent the production of bioalcohols from these plentiful sources. Obviously, no known organism exist which combines all the properties necessary to be a sustainable bioalcohol producer. Therefore, breeding technologies, genetic engineering and the search for undiscovered species are promising means to provide a microorganism exhibiting high alcohol productivities and yields, converting all lignocellulosic sugars or are even able to use carbon dioxide or monoxide, and thereby being highly resistant to inhibitors and fermentation products, and easy to cultivate in huge bioreactors. In this review, we compare the properties of various microorganisms, bacteria and yeasts, as well as current research efforts to develop a reliable lignocellulosic bioalcohol producing organism.

Effects of Deep Sea Water (DSW) Nigari on the Alcohol Production of Yeasts Fermented in Acidic Roselle Extract

The effects of deep sea water (DSW) nigari refined from DSW pumped from a depth of 400 m off Hualien, Taiwan, on the brewer's yeasts used in making a beverage based on roselle extract (pH 2.57) were investigated. Experimental results showed that the addition of DSW nigari (300 mg/L) produced a higher alcohol yield with yeast strains B1 (4.13% [vol/vol]), B6 (4.97% [vol/vol]), and Saccharomyces bayanus BCRC 21673 (3.00% [vol/vol]), in marked contrast to not adding DSW nigari to the three yeast strains (2.23, 1.77, and 0.77% [vol/vol] for B1, B6, and BCRC 21673, respectively). The results also indicated that the increase in alcohol yield was dose dependent when DSW nigari was used at 0, 150, 300, and 450 mg/L with strain B6. Although the addition of DSW nigari resulted in higher levels of viable cells than those in the control samples, they did not significantly differ from each other. A concentration of four individual metal chlorides (CaCl2, KCl, MgCl2, and NaCl) or a mixture of these metals equivalent to 300 mg of DSW nigari per L was added to investigate which major components of DSW nigari affect strain B6 with regard to growth and the production of alcohol and flavor compounds. The results revealed that Mg and Ca did not affect yeast growth, whereas K, Na, and the metal mixture did, although they were still less effective than DSW nigari. Furthermore, DSW nigari produced the highest yield of alcohol, followed by the metal mixture. No significant differences were observed between the individual metals and the control group. Addition of DSW nigari increased the amounts of ethyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, and isobutanol produced; however, this phenomenon was not directly due to stimulation from alcohol acetyltransferase activity but was caused mainly by an increase in yeast growth.

Alcohol synthesis by hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters on supported Ru–Sn and Rh–Sn catalysts

Alcohol synthesis by hydrogenation of methyl laurate or methyl palmitate was studied using binary catalysts such as Ru–Sn and Rh–Sn supported on Al 2O 3, SiO 2, or ZrO 2. The catalyst was suspended in the neat ester, and the reaction was carried out at 300 °C and 6.0 MPa of H 2 in an autoclave. Binary catalysts were prepared by the conventional impregnation method and characterized by XRD, isothermal nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and CO-adsorption. Among the catalysts studied, supported Rh–Sn catalyst showed the highest alcohol yield, and a major by-product was a lengthy ester formed by an ester-exchange reaction between the original ester and the formed alcohol itself. The molar ratio of noble metal to tin greatly influenced the catalytic performance. Support with a low surface area, for example α-Al 2O 3, was favorable for the alcohol synthesis compared with that with a high surface area. It was revealed that the ester-exchange reaction occurred without catalyst just by heating at temperatures higher than 200 °C. The results showed that to achieve a high alcohol yield, it is important to prepare catalysts of high activity to hydrogenate the lengthy ester formed in situ.

Reaction of ethanol over hydroxyapatite affected by Ca/P ratio of catalyst

The mineral hydroxyapatite [HAP; Ca 10(PO 4) 6(OH) 2] is the chief component of animal bones and teeth. It also is known to function as a catalyst with both acid and base sites, depending on the manner in which it is synthesized. We closely studied the reaction of ethanol over HAP using catalysts of different Ca/P molar ratios. These were prepared by controlling the pH of the solution during precipitation synthesis. We found that the distribution of acid sites and basic sites on the catalyst surface varied with the Ca/P ratio of HAP. The yields of ethylene, 1-butanol, and 1,3-butadiene were correlated with the ratio of acid sites and basic sites. We further found that yields of higher alcohols, such as 1-butanol, that are known as Guerbet alcohols and are characteristic products of ethanol over HAP, are functions of the probability of ethanol activation ( α) on the catalyst surface.