Novel strategy using an adsorbent-column chromatography for effective ethanol production from sugarcane or sugar beet molasses.
Molasses-based distilleries generate large volumes of a highly polluted and dark brown-colored wastewater. The present work describes the way in which an adsorbent-column chromatography can effectively remove the colorant and produce biomass ethanol from sugarcane or sugar beet molasses. It was found that the color and chemical oxygen demand of the resulting wastewater was respectively reduced by approximately 87% and 28% as compared with conventional molasses fermentation. Gas chromatography showed that the decolorized molasses maintained good ethanol productivity almost equal to that of the original molasses. Furthermore, it was revealed that the colorant concentrations of about 5 mg ml(-1) in the medium were the most favorable for ethanolic fermentation. In summary, we have concluded that this method is the most effective when the adsorbent chromatography is performed just before molasses fermentation and that the decolorized molasses is an ideal substrate for fuel ethanol production.
Hatano
Ken-ichi
K
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Engineering, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma, Japan. hatano@chem-bio.gunma-u.ac.jp
Kikuchi
Satoshi
S
Nakamura
Yohei
Y
Sakamoto
Hironobu
H
Takigami
Machiko
M
Kojima
Yasuyoshi
Y
D000327:Adsorption; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods*; D003116:Color; D003470:Culture Media; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D008965:Molasses; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000378:metabolism; D031786:Saccharum / Q000378:metabolism*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D000431:Ethanol; D010100:Oxygen