ARS | Publication request: EFFECT OF EFFECT OF ENDOSPERM HARDNESS ON SUGAR PROFILES AND ETHANOL YIELDS IN DRY GRIND ETHANOL PROCESS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 15, 2004
Publication Date: May 20, 2004
Citation: Murthy, G.S., Rausch, K.D., Johnston, D., Tumbleson, M.E., Singh, V. Effect of effect of endosperm hardness on sugar profiles and ethanol yields in dry grind ethanol process. Proceedings of the Corn Utilization & Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN. June 7-9, 2004. Poster CD.

Technical Abstract: Profitability of the corn processing industry can be increased by maximizing ethanol yields by careful selection of corn hybrids. It is known that hard and soft endosperm corn hybrids differ in milling/fractionation characteristics. Little is known about the effect of endosperm hardness on ethanol yields. In this study, effect of endosperm hardness on ethanol yield was evaluated. Six commercial corn hybrids with varying degrees of endosperm hardness were processed using a small scale dry grind laboratory procedure. Hybrids were classified according to true density and evaluated for their sugar profiles and ethanol yields, after saccharification and fermentation, respectively. The true density of hybrids varied from 1118.3 -1217.75 Kg/m3. Depending upon endosperm hardness, ethanol yield varied by 1.89% (v/v) among hybrids. Sugars produced (by the action of alpha-amylase and glucoamylase on starch) were found to be higher for hard endosperm corn. For softer endosperm hybrids, ethanol yields were lower and the solids content was higher in thin stillage and wet grains. Solids content varied by 2.79% for thin stillage and 5.16% for wet grains between hybrids.