Effects of genetic variation and growing condition of prairie cordgrass on feedstock composition and ethanol yield.
Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata L.) has the potential to be a feedstock for bioethanol. It is native to North America, and has extensive genetic diversity. Eleven natural populations of prairie cordgrass harvested in 2011 and 2012 were studied. Compositions of the samples showed significant differences within the same year, and between the two years. Two highest, one medium and two lowest glucan concentration samples from each year were selected to evaluate ethanol yield after dilute acid pretreatment and simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation using Saccharomycescerevisiae SR8 that can ferment both glucose and xylose. Up to 88% of theoretical ethanol yields were achieved. Our research demonstrates the potential of prairie cordgrass as a dedicated energy crop with ethanol yields of 205.0-275.6 g/kg biomass and 1748-4368 L/ha, depending on feedstock composition and biomass yield. These ethanol yields are comparable with those of switchgrass, corn stover and bagasse.
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
Sun Min
SM
Kim
Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
Jia
J
Guo
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
Suryang
S
Kwak
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
Yong-Su
YS
Jin
Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
D K
DK
Lee
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: vsingh@illinois.edu.
Vijay
V
Singh
D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D065948:Grassland; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons; D012995:Solubility; D014994:Xylose / Q000032:analysis
D056804:Biofuels; D002241:Carbohydrates; D000431:Ethanol; D014994:Xylose; D005947:Glucose
Dilute acid pretreatment; Engineered yeast; Ethanol yields; Genetic variation; Prairie cordgrass