Production of ethanol from newly developed and improved winter barley cultivars

Authors: Nghiem, Nhuan; BROOKS, WYNSE - Virginia Tech; GRIFFEY, CARL - Virginia Tech; Toht, Matthew

Submitted to: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/9/2016
Publication Date: 1/1/2017
Citation: Nghiem, N.P., Brooks, W.S., Griffey, C.A., Toht, M.J. 2017. Production of ethanol from newly developed and improved winter barley cultivars. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 182:400-410.

Interpretive Summary: Winter barley has attracted strong interest as a potential feedstock for fuel ethanol production in regions with mild winter climates such as the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States. Ten recently developed and improved winter barley cultivars and breeding lines, including five hulled and five hull-less lines were experimentally evaluated for potential ethanol production. On the average, the hull-less barley cultivars produced more ethanol per unit mass because of their higher starch and B-glucan contents. However, since the hulled barley cultivars had higher agronomic yield, the potential ethanol production per acre of land for the two types were approximately equal. Among the ten cultivars tested, the hull-less cultivar Amaze 10 was the best one for ethanol production. The ethanol yield values obtained for this cultivar were 2.61 gallons per bushel, which was nearly equal to the typical value obtained for corn, i.e. 2.8 gallons per bushel.

Technical Abstract: Winter barley has attracted strong interest as a potential feedstock for fuel ethanol production in regions with mild winter climates such as the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States. Ten recently developed and improved winter barley cultivars and breeding lines, including five hulled and five hull-less lines were experimentally evaluated for potential ethanol production. The five hulled barley lines included three released cultivars (Thoroughbred, Atlantic and Secretariat) and two breeding lines (VA09B-34 and VA11B-4). The five hull-less lines also included three released cultivars (Eve, Dan and Amaze 10) and two breeding lines (VA08H-65 and VA13H-34). On the average, the hull-less barley cultivars produced more ethanol per unit mass because of their higher starch and B-glucan contents. However, since the hulled barley cultivars had higher agronomic yield, the potential ethanol production per acre of land for the two types were approximately equal. Among the ten cultivars tested, the hull-less cultivar Amaze 10 was the best one for ethanol production. The ethanol yield values obtained for this cultivar were 2.61 gallons per bushel and 292 gallons per acre.