Stalk Juice Research Articles

Planting Sweet Sorghum in Yellow River Delta: The Cultivation Measure, Yield and Effect on Soil Microflora

Field experiment was conducted in the saline soil of Yellow River Delta between May to Oct. Sweet sorghum was planted with different cultivation measures to test the effect of plastic mulch, plant density, organic manure application and additional fertilizer application on the yield, stalk juice Brix and extraction rate. The soil bacteria and actinomycetes quantities were also determined after harvesting to test the amelioration effects of different measures on soil.

Enhanced ethanol production from stalk juice of sweet sorghum by response surface methodology

Sweet sorghum (sugar sorghum, Sorghum bicolor ) is one kind of non-grain energy crops. As a novel green regenerated high-energy crop with high utility value, high yield of biomass, the sweet sorghum is widely used and developed in China. Stalk juice of sweet sorghum was used as the main substrate for ethanol production by a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain because of the high content of sugar. Effects of different medium compositions, including urea, KH 2 PO 4 and MgSO 4 , on ethanol production were studied by response surface methodology in this paper. A second-order model that related the concentration of ethanol was developed and thus the optimal medium composition was obtained, which was 4.75 g l -1 urea, 3.58 g l -1 KH 2 PO 4 , and 0.98 g l -1 MgSO 4 . Under this condition, the highest ethanol concentration reached 86.2 g l -1 . Key words: Ethanol, sweet sorghum, stalk juice, medium composition, response surface methodology.

Kinetics of Batch Fermentations for Ethanol Production with Immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae Growing on Sweet Sorghum Stalk Juice

The effect of different initial reducing sugar concentration on ethanol production in batch fermentation of Chuntian No. 2 sweet sorghum cultivar stalk juice by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae CICC 1308 was investigated. In addition, kinetic model was studied. With the increase of initial sugar concentration, a significant inhibition on the maximum specific growth rate was clearly observed, however, there was no significant influence on the maximum specific ethanol production rate. Hinshelwood model was successfully applied to describe the effects of different initial reducing sugar concentration on the kinetic parameters of ethanol fermentation by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae CICC 1308, using sweet sorghum stalk juice as the substrate.The kinetic parameters of fermentation process were obtained. The experimental results showed that Hinshelwood model could describe very well the dynamics of ethanol fermentation with immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae growing on sweet sorghum stalk juice containing initial reducing sugar concentration of 85–156 g/L.

Suitability of Sorghum bicolor L. stalks and grains for bioproduction of ethanol

The goal of this proposed research is to utilize each of the stalk juice, the acid hydrolysate of both lignocellulosic components of the juice extracted stalks and grains of the non food sweet sorghum crop as a carbon source during bioproduction of ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF) process. The obtained results revealed variation in proximate composition of carbohydrate compounds and mineral content between the sweet sorghum crop parts used in this study. The acid hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic components of stalks led to hydrolyze 11.18% of cellulose, 76.91% of hemicelluloses and 24.27% of lignin. It also converted 67% of the starch in the grains into reducing sugars. After 72h of fermentation, the medium containing starch grain hydrolysate gave the highest ethanol production (23.93g/l) with a yield of 0.50g alcohol per g sugar and fermentation efficiency of 97.39% comparing with other two mediums having stalk juice and stalk hydrolysate (SH) as carbon sources. Also the yeasts in this medium consumed the highest amount of sugars and gave the highest biomass yield followed by that containing the stalk hydrolysate. Waste water which remained after the recovery of ethanol and the removal of biomass from the fermentation medium had considerable levels of potassium, sodium, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu and Mn and can be recommended for use in plant irrigation.

Optimization of butanol production from tropical maize stalk juice by fermentation with Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052

Mixed sugars from tropical maize stalk juice were used to carry out butanol fermentation with Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052. Batch experiments employing central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) optimization were performed to evaluate effects of three factors, i.e. pH, initial total sugar concentration, and agitation rate on butanol production. Optimum conditions of pH 6.7, sugar concentration 42.2g/L and agitation rate 48rpm were predicted, under which a maximum butanol yield of 0.27g/g-sugar was estimated. Further experiments demonstrated that higher agitation facilitated acetone production, leading to lower butanol selectivity in total acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE). While glucose and fructose are more preferable by C. beijerinckii, sucrose can also be easily degraded by the microorganism. This study indicated that RSM is a useful approach for optimizing operational conditions for butanol production, and demonstrated that tropical maize, with high yield of biomass and stalk sugars, is a promising biofuel crop.

Bioethanol production from sweet sorghum stalk juice with immobilized yeast

Abstract The experiments of ethanol fermentation from sweet sorghum stalk juice with immobilized yeast at different conditions, including temperature, pH, particles stuffing rate and initial substrate concentration, were carried out in 250 ml shaking flasks to obtain suitable parameters by analyzing the values of ethanol formation rate (rp/s) and ethanol-sugar conversion ratio (Yp/s), respectively. The results indicated that fermentation temperature of 33 °C, pH of 4.5, particles stuffing rate of 25% and the initial sugar concentrationof 218.1 mg·ml-1 could be selected. The results of verification experiments in 250 ml shaking flasks with the corresponding conditions showed that the value of rp/s and Yp/s were 0.0486g·g-1·h-1 and 0.4005 g·g-1, respectively. In addition, the results of rp/s and Yp/s in the further verification experiments of 1L shaking flasks were 0.0465g·g-1·h-1 and 0.4248 g·g-1, respectively, which could be deduced that the selected conditions were suitable and reliable for ethanol production from sweet sorghum using immobilized yeast.

Inheritance of sugar concentration in stalk (brix), sucrose content, stalk and juice yield in sorghum

Sweet sorghum is gaining importance as a raw material for ethanol production. Information on genetics of sugar content in stalk is required to facilitate the breeding of cultivars with high ethanol yield. Generation mean analysis and frequency distribution studies were carried out in crosses 27 B × kellar, and 27 B × BJ 204 for sweet stalk during 2006 and 2007. Kellar (a US sweet sorghum line) and BJ 204 (a Chinese line) are high brix (sweet stalk) lines. The traits studied were: brix, sucrose, stalk, and juice yield and plant height. The mean performance of families showed that the F 1 in crosses for high brix and sucrose percentage were tending towards P 2 (higher sugar percentage parent) implying these traits to be dominant for higher brix and sucrose content. However, the mean values of F 1 for stalk and juice yields and plant height showed over-dominance for the traits. Frequency distribution of F 2 showed that brix and sucrose percentage are polygenic traits, and stalk and juice yields are oligogenic traits. Generation mean analysis showed that both additive and dominant gene actions for traits, sucrose and brix in stalk juice were significant. Since the plant traits important for high stalk sugar percentage show dominance and over-dominance inheritance, hybrid breeding will be useful. Selection for pure lines with high brix is to be practised in later generations.

Study on genotypic variation for ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice

Abstract Sugarcane molasses is the main source for ethanol production in India. Sweet sorghum with its juicy stem containing sugars equivalent to that of sugarcane is a very good alternative for bio-ethanol production to meet the energy needs of the country. Sweet sorghum is drought resistant, water logging resistant and saline–alkaline tolerant. Growing sweet sorghum for ethanol production is relatively easy and economical and ethanol produced from sweet sorghum is eco-friendly. In view of this, it is important to identify superior genotypes for ethanol production in terms of percent juice brix, juice extractability, total fermentable sugars, ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency. This paper presents the study on the variability observed for the production of ethanol by various sweet sorghum genotypes in a laboratory fermentor. Five Sweet Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) genotypes were evaluated for ethanol production from stalk juice (Keller, SSV 84, Wray, NSSH 104 and BJ 248). Sweet sorghum juice differs from cane juice mainly in its higher content of starch and aconitic acid. Data were collected for biomass yield; stalk sugar yield and ethanol production in five genotypes. Maximum ethanol production of 9.0%w/v ethanol was obtained with Keller variety (20% sugar concentration was used), and decreased for other genotypes. A distiller's strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (gifted by Seagram Distilleries Ltd.) was employed for fermentation. The fermentation efficiency (FE) was 94.7% for this strain. High biomass of yeast was obtained with BJ 248 variety. When the similar experiments were conducted with unsterile sweet sorghum juice (15% sugar concentration) 6.47%w/v ethanol was produced.

Use of sweet sorghum juice for lipid production by Schizochytrium limacinum SR21

Stalk juice from sweet sorghum grown in Southern Illinois, USA, was examined for lipid production through microalgal fermentation. Juice concentrations at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% led to different biomass, lipid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production by Schizochytrium limacinum SR21. Biomass dry weight as 9.4 g/l at 50% juice concentration was similar to that from pure glucose (10.9 g/l). But with a 73.4% lipid content, this dose resulted in higher lipid and DHA production than those from pure glucose. Major fatty acids in cells grown on juice were identical to those fed by other substrates. Among the three sugars – glucose, fructose, and sucrose in sorghum juice, only glucose was utilized for growth. Spent medium after algal removal may be further processed for white sugar production in a traditional way since sucrose content remained the same throughout the algal fermentation process. Algal cells or lipids harvested can be utilized as fish meal, human nutrition supplements, or for biodiesel purpose.

Bioethanol in Nigeria: comparative analysis of sugarcane and sweet sorghum as feedstock sources

This review discusses the relative merits of sweet sorghum and sugarcane crops for the expanding bioethanol sector in Nigeria. We have compared, from a number of perspectives, sugarcane molasses and sweet sorghum stalk juice as biomass sources for Nigerian fuel alcohol fermentations and the findings indicate that sweet sorghum is most suited in terms of the adaptability of this crop to harsh climatic and cultivation conditions. In terms of environmental impact, sweet sorghum cultivation is more water efficient, requires less energy input, fertilization and agrochemical application. The concept of life cycle analysis was used to compare the environmental, social and economic impacts of using sweet sorghum stalk juice and sugarcane molasses. Sweet sorghum represents a more favourable biomass source and there is great potential for sustainable development and utilization of sweet sorghum for bioenergy production in Nigeria. However, there is need for well defined, structured, coordinated, targeted and monitored scientific efforts and investments in order to realize maximum associated benefits.

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum dochna L.) restorer lines effects on nutritional parameters of stalk juice

Sweet sorghum can be utilized for bioethanol production because it has high sugar content (14-17%). We determined the most important nutritional values of 5 silo type sorghum lines in waxy and full maturation. The examined restorer lines were: RL 4, RL 9, RL 15, RL 18, K 1. The following nutritional parameters were examined: dry material content, refractometric total sugar content, reducing sugar content. In waxy maturation 73.85-87.37% of dry matter in stalk juice makes the total sugar. Dry material content, total and reducing sugar content of stalkdecreases from waxy mature to full maturation.There are differences between lines in dry matter (SzD5%=0.76), total sugar (SzD5%=0.79), reducing sugar content (SzD5%=0.30). RL 4 performed a decrease in total sugar content from 10.07% to 10.02% during this period, reducing sugar also decreased from 4.01% to 2.47%. RL 9 performed a decrease in total sugar content from 11.76% to 11.08% during this period. Reducing sugar also decreased from 3.17% to 2.01% in the waxymaturation. RL 15 showed a total sugar content decrease from 15.43 % to 15.36%. The reducing sugar also decreased from 3.23% to 1.71% in waxy maturation. In RL 18 total mean sugar content during waxy maturation was 13.78% which dropped to 13.26% approaching full maturation. Reducing sugar also decreased from 4.11% to 2.23% in waxy mature. K 1 performed a decrease in total sugar content from 9.35% to 6.15% during this period, while reducing sugar also decreased from 1.52% to 0.77%. These lines upcoming for experiments are perspectives since having excellent stalk juice nutritional parameters they are of great or very great height and their stalks are thick-very thick, stalk medullas are wet.

Effects of Temperature, pH, Agitation and Particles Stuffing Rate on Fermentation of Sorghum Stalk Juice to Ethanol

The main factors, including temperature, agitation rate, pH, and particles stuffing rate, were chosen in ethanol fermentation from stalk juice of sweet sorghum using immobilized S. cerevisiae in shaking flasks in order to determine suitable conditions. The results showed that a temperature of 34°C, agitation rate of 150–200 r · min−1, pH of 4.5, and particles stuffing rate of 25% should be selected as the suitable condition. The results of verification experiments at the selected condition demonstrated that the ethanol yield, the CO2 weight loss rate, and fermentation time were 95.15%, 0.508 g · h−1, and 6 h in the shaking flasks, respectively. Meanwhile, the ethanol yield and the fermentation time were 96.72% and 10 h in the 5 L bioreactor. As a result, it could be concluded that the determined condition was suitable and reasonable for ethanol fermentation from by immobilized S. cerevisiae.

Phenometric studies on stalk juice and sugar contents of silo sorghum types

Bioenergies (among them e.g. bioalcohol) can be solutions for the replacement of fossil fuels. For its production, plants with high sugar or starch content can be used. Juice pressed from the stalk of sugar sorghum has high sugar content (14-17%) that makes it suitable for bioethanol production. During our experiment, we examined 53 restorer male lines; among them 22 were silo type sugar sorghum. We studied the following traits: plant height, breeding time, level of foliation, stalk diameter, characteristics of stalk medulla, juice content of stalk, sugar content of stalk juice. According to examined characteristics, we selected six restorer male lines for studies in the forthcoming years: RL 1, RL 2, RL 3, RL 4, RL 5, RL 9, RL 12, RL 15, RL 18. Their stalk medullas were wet, stalk diameters were medium-thick, sugar contents of juices varied between 17 and 24% at the end of milk mature. Harvest was made in September, they can be classified into early maturation group. Male sterile female lines were the following: SL 1, SL 2, SL 3, SL 4, SL 5. The maintainer male lines were: CL 1, CL 2, CL 3, CL 4, CL 5. In Hungary, there are only a few male sterile femalelines, so we will use these lines for hybrid production during the next years.

Optimization of Fermentation Conditions for the Production of Ethanol from Stalk Juice of Sweet Sorghum by Immobilized Yeast Using Response Surface Methodology

Optimization of three parameters, including initial total sugar concentration, supplement rate of (NH4)2SO4, and particles stuffing rate, was attempted using response surface methodology based on a Box−Behnken design for the optimal production of ethanol by immobilized yeast fermentation of stalk juice of Liaotian number 1 sweet sorghum cultivar in shaking flasks. The correlation analysis of the mathematical regression model indicated that the quadratic polynomial model could be employed to optimize ethanol production. The optimum conditions were found to be an initial total sugar concentration of 22.88%, supplement rate of (NH4)2SO4 of 0.244%, and particles stuffing rate of 25.15%. At the optimum conditions, the maximum predicted ethanol yield of 93.83% was obtained. The ethanol yield and fermentation time of verification experiments in the shaking flask were 92.37% and 14 h at the corresponding parameters, respectively, while they were 93.23% and 13 h, respectively, in a 5 L bioreactor, in which the pre...

Optimization of media conditions for the production of ethanol from sweet sorghum juice by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In order to obtain high ethanol yield and fermentation rate, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to study the effect of culture medium on the ethanol productivity from stalk juice of sweet sorghum by immobilized yeast. A 2 3 central composite design (CCD) was chosen to explain the combined effects of the medium constituents, viz. nitrogen (adjusted by adding (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ), phosphorus (adjusted by adding KH 2 PO 4 ), and pH. A mathematical correlation about the influence of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH on the ethanol productivity was established. It predicted that the maximum ethanol production rate (119.12 g/l h) was observed for a medium consisting of 0.77 g/l phosphorus, 2.15 g/l nitrogen, and pH = 6.39. Under this condition, the ethanol fermentation rate was 122.85 g/l h.

Experimental research on storage of condensed stalk juice and composition analysis of juice of sweet sorghum stalk.

Experimental research on storage of condensed stalk juice and composition analysis of juice of sweet sorghum stalk.

Refining bioethanol from stalk juice of sweet sorghum by immobilized yeast fermentation

The relationship between total soluble sugar content and Brix in stalk juice of sweet sorghum was determined through one-dimensional linear regression. Meanwhile, bioethanol fermentation experiments were conducted in shaking flasks and 10 l fluidized bed bioreactor with stalk juice of Yuantian No. 1 sweet sorghum cultivar when immobilized yeast was applied. The experimental results in the shaking flasks showed that the order of influence on improving ethanol yield was (NH 4) 2SO 4>MgSO 4>K 2HPO 4, and the optimum inorganic salts supplement dose was determined as follows: K 2HPO 4 0%, (NH 4) 2SO 4 0.2%, MgSO 4 0.05%. When the optimum inorganic salts supplement dose was used in fermentation in 10 l fluidized bed reactor, the fermentation time and ethanol content were 5 h and 6.2% (v/v), respectively, and ethanol yield was 91.61%, which was increased by 9.73% than blank. In addition, the results showed that the fermentation time was about 6–8 times shorter in fluidized bed bioreactor with immobilized yeast than that of conventional fermentation technology. As a result, it can be concluded that the determined optimum inorganic salts supplement dose could be used as a guide for commercial ethanol production. The fluidized bed bioreactor with immobilized yeast technology has a great potential for ethanol fermentation of stalk juice of sweet sorghum.

Impacts of main factors on bioethanol fermentation from stalk juice of sweet sorghum by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CICC 1308)

In order to attain a higher ethanol yield and faster ethanol fermentation rate, orthogonal experiments of ethanol fermentation with immobilized yeast from stalk juice of sweet sorghum were carried out in the shaking flasks to investigate the effect of main factors, namely, fermentation temperature, agitation rate, particles stuffing rate and pH on ethanol yield and CO 2 weight loss rate. The range analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied for the results of orthogonal experiments. Results showed that the optimal condition for bioethanol fermentation should be A 4B 3C 3D 4, namely, fermentation temperature, agitation rate, particles stuffing rate and pH were 37 °C, 200 rpm, 25% and 5.0, respectively. The verification experiments were carried out in shaking flasks and 5 L bioreactor at the corresponding parameters. The results of verification experiments in the shaking flasks showed that ethanol yield and CO 2 weight loss rate were 98.07% and 1.020 g h −1, respectively. The results of ethanol fermentation in the 5 L bioreactor showed that ethanol yield and fermentation time were 93.24% and 11 h, respectively. As a result, it could be concluded that the determined optimal condition A 4B 3C 3D 4 was suitable and reasonable for the ethanol fermentation by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The conclusion in the research would be beneficial for application of ethanol fermentation by immobilized S. cerevisiae from stalk juice of sweet sorghum.

Screening of sugarcane mosaic potyvirus (SCMV) from cane stalk juice

Sugarcane mosaic potyvirus (SCMV) is widely infected in most of the sugarcane growing belts of India causing intervienal chlorotic specks, streaks or stripes especially on young leaves. Earlier only the infected leaves extract were commonly used for the screening of this virus by serological methods. However, in the present study, direct antigen coating enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (DAC-ELISA) and dot blot immunoassay (DIBA) were standardized for the detection of the virus in infected cane stalk juice samples. Juice dilution up to 1:150 was found satisfactory for the detection of SCMV in DAC-ELISA and DIBA serological tests. Our results suggest that cane stalk juice could be equally satisfactory as virus infected leaf samples and can be used in commercial screening of sugarcane mosaic potyvirus.

Availability of Percent Brix of Stalk Juice as the Simple Method of Estimating Forage Maize (Zea mays L.) Digestibility and the Eeffect of Correction of Percent Brix by Stalk Dry Matter Percentage

Availability of Percent Brix of Stalk Juice as the Simple Method of Estimating Forage Maize (Zea mays L.) Digestibility and the Eeffect of Correction of Percent Brix by Stalk Dry Matter Percentage