Ethanol production from sorghum by a dilute ammonia pretreatment

Sorghum fibers were pretreated with ammonium hydroxide and the effectiveness of the pretreatment evaluated by enzyme hydrolysis and ethanol production. The treatment was carried out by mixing sorghum fibers, ammonia, and water at a ratio of 1:0.14:8 at 160°C for 1 h under 140–160 psi pressure. Approximately 44% lignin and 35% hemicellulose were removed during the process. Untreated and dilute-ammonia-treated fibers at 10% dry solids were hydrolyzed using combinations of commercially available enzymes, Spezyme CP and Novozyme 188. Enzyme combinations were tested at full strength (60 FPU Spezyme CP and 64 CBU Novozyme 188/g glucan) and at half strength (30 FPU Spezyme CP and 32 CBU Novozyme 188/g glucan). Biomass enzyme hydrolysis was conducted for 24 h. Saccharomyces cerevisiae D₅A was added post hydrolysis for conversion of glucose to ethanol. Theoretical cellulose yields for treated biomass were 84% and 73%, and hemicellulose yields were 73% and 55% for full strength and half strength, respectively. Average cellulose yield was 38% and hemicellulose yield was 14.5% for untreated biomass. Ethanol yields were 25 g/100 g dry biomass and 21 g/100 g dry biomass for full strength and half strength enzyme concentrations, respectively. Controls averaged 10 g ethanol/100 g dry biomass.