Increasing Ethanol Yield through Fiber Conversion in Corn Dry Grind Process

Themes: Conversion

Keywords: Feedstock Bioprocessing

Citation

Kurambhatti, C.V., Kumar, D., Rausch, K.D., Tumbleson, M.E., Singh, V. Sept. 11, 2018. “Increasing Ethanol Yield through Fiber Conversion in Corn Dry Grind Process.” Bioresource Technology, Volume 270, Pages 742-745,  DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.09.120.

Overview

Adding 30 FPU/g fiber cellulase (top) increased ethanol production in comparison with a control, whereas adding 120 FPU/g fiber (bottom) resulted in reduced ethanol production and left residual glucose, indicating fermentation inhibition.

Conversion of corn fiber to ethanol in the dry grind process could increase ethanol yields, reduce downstream processing costs and improve overall process profitability. This work investigates the in-situ conversion of corn fiber into ethanol (cellulase addition during simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) during dry grind process. Addition of 30 FPU/g fiber cellulase resulted in 4.6% increase in ethanol yield compared to the conventional process. Use of excess cellulase (120 FPU/g fiber) resulted in incomplete fermentation and lower ethanol yield compared to the conventional process. Multiple factors including high concentrations of ethanol and phenolic compounds were responsible for yeast stress and incomplete fermentation in excess cellulase experiments.

Data

Download (3.2KB) includes:

  • Ethanol and Glucose Profiles
  • Effect of cellulose addition on conventional dry grid process

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