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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #226590
Title: Evaluation and Characterization of Forage Sorghum as Feedstock for Fermentable Sugar Production

Author
item CORREDOR, DEISY
item SALAZAR, JUAN MANUEL
item HOHN, KEITH
item Bean, Scott
item BEAN, BRENT
item WANG, DONGHAI

Submitted to: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2009
Citation: Corredor, D., Salazar, J., Hohn, K., Bean, S., Bean, B., Wang, D. 2009. Evaluation and Characterization of Forage Sorghum as Feedstock for Fermentable Sugar Production. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 158(1):164-179.

Interpretive Summary: Successful use of biomass for biofuel production depends on not only pretreatment methods and efficient processing conditions but also physical and chemical properties of the biomass. In this study, four varieties of forage sorghum (stems and leaves) were characterized and evaluated as feedstock for fermentable sugar production. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to determine changes in structure and chemical composition of forage sorghum before and after pretreatment and the enzymatic hydrolysis process. Up to 72% of hexose yield and 94% of pentose yield were obtained using “modified” steam explosion with 2% sulfuric acid at 140°C for 30 min and enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase (15 FPU/g. cellulose) and ß-glucosidase (50 CBU/g. cellulose).

Technical Abstract: Sorghum is a tropical grass grown primarily in semiarid and drier parts of the world, especially areas too dry for corn. Sorghum production also leaves about 58 million tons of by-products composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The low lignin content of some forage sorghums such as brown midrib makes them more digestible for ethanol production. Successful use of biomass for biofuel production depends on not only pretreatment methods and efficient processing conditions but also physical and chemical properties of the biomass. In this study, four varieties of forage sorghum (stems and leaves) were characterized and evaluated as feedstock for fermentable sugar production. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to determine changes in structure and chemical composition of forage sorghum before and after pretreatment and the enzymatic hydrolysis process. Up to 72% of hexose yield and 94% of pentose yield were obtained using “modified” steam explosion with 2% sulfuric acid at 140°C for 30 min and enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase (15 FPU/g. cellulose) and ß-glucosidase (50 CBU/g. cellulose).