Ethanol from Sweet Sorghum

Introduction

Traditionally alcohol has been produced mainly from sugarcane and molasses. Sweet sorghum, being a multipurpose crop and tolerant to wide range of climatic and soil conditions, fermentation studies were conducted on the juice of sweet sorghum varieties developed by the technology offerer, using strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A total of 16 strains were screened and NCIM 3319 was found to be best suited for fermentation. The average fermentation efficiency obtained was 90% and the fermentation was completed between 48-72 hours. The juice is claimed to contain an average of 10-11% (w/w) total fermentable sugars and the alcohol yields are about 6% (v/v). Thus these varieties of sweet sorghum can produce about 1000-2000 litre/hectare/season of 95% (v/v) alcohol.A pilot solar distillation plant consisting of 38 m2 of flat plate solar collectors coupled to a hot water storage tank of 2150 litre capacity has been set up. The distillation column is of packed bed type and has bee

Raw Materials:

Raw material - Sweet sorghum 150 tons/dayEquipment M/C (FOB) - US$ 200,000/-Operational maintenance cost/year: 20% of the capital cost.

Status Of Commercialization : Pilot plant

Techno Economics: Fees for technical know-how/training US$ 15000/-

Terms and Conditions: Licensing Production capacity : 5000 litres/day

Contact for more information

Director
Asian & Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology
Off New Mehrauli Road
Adjoinig technology Bhawan
P O Box-4575
New Delhi 110016
Tel: 11 6856276
Fax: 11 6856274
E-mail: postmaster@apctt.org