Continuous, farm-scale, solid-phase fermentation process for fuel ethanol and protein feed production from fodder beets

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260260913· OSTI ID:6156570

Gibbons, W R; Westby, C A; Dobbs, T L

Fuel ethanol (95%) was produced from fodder beets in two farm-scale processes. In the first process, involving conventional submerged fermentation of the fodder beets in a mash, ethanol and a feed (PF) rich in protein, fat, and fiber were produced. Ethanol yields of 70 L/metric ton (17 gal/ton) were obtained; however, resulting beers had low ethanol concentrations )3-5% (v/v)). The high viscosity of medium and low sugar, beet mashes caused mixing problems which prevented any further increase of beet sugar in the mash. This severely limited the maximum attainable ethanol concentration during fermentation, thereby making the beer costly to distill into fuel ethanol and the process energy inefficient. In order to achieve distillably worthwhile ethanol concentrations of 8-10% (v/v), a solid phase fermentation process (continuous) was developed and tested. In preliminary trials, this system produced fermented pulp with over 8% (v/v) ethanol corresponding to an ethanol yield of 87 L/metric ton (21 gal/ton). Production costs with this novel process are $0.47/L ($1.77/gal) and the energy balance is 2.11. These preliminary cost estimates indicate that fodder beets are potentially competitive with corn as an ethanol feedstock. Additional research, however, is warranted to more precisely refine individual costs, energy balances and the actual value of the PF.

• Research Organization: South Dakota State Univ., Brookings
• OSTI ID: 6156570
• Journal Information: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. 26:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
BEETS
FERMENTATION
ETHANOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
COST ESTIMATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENERGY BALANCE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
DATA
ECONOMICS
FOOD
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SYNTHESIS
VEGETABLES
090222* - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)