Bioethanol production from corn stalk juice using Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR 5020

Abstract

This study aimed to use sweet corn hybrid hi-brix53 stalk juice for bioethanol production, to give a solution to the growing problem of food vs. fuel and to utilize waste for cheaper production. Hi-brix 53 stalk juice contained 112.07 ± 2.99 g L⁻¹ of total sugars and 21.83 ± 1.09 g L⁻¹ of reducing sugars. Through fermentation (24–120 h) using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), it produced 6.01% (v/v) bioethanol. The final ethanol produce (g L⁻¹) yield efficiency and volumetric ethanol productivity were at the highest at 24 h with 47.87 L⁻¹, 87.62% and 1.97 ± 0.06 (g L⁻¹ h⁻¹). These results suggest that hi-brix 53 stalk juice is an ideal substrate for bioethanol production.