|
July 2, 2007
Source:
Home-Grown Cereals Authority
(HGCA), United Kingdom
Project Progress 14/Summer 2006, updated May 2007
Wheat is likely to become a major
biofuel crop in the UK. Production processes differ between
potable and fuel alcohols, but similar principles apply.
Usually, cereal grains, such as wheat, are milled and water is
added; cooking gelatinises the starch. Enzymes are added to
convert the starch to sugar, which is fermented by yeasts.
Ethanol is distilled from the fermented mixture. By-products are
dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) and carbon dioxide
in roughly equal amounts by weight.
- Processors require grain
giving high alcohol yields and high processing efficiency.
Several characteristics affect these parameters, eg starch
content, moisture content and viscosity.
- Low mycotoxin levels are
also required because DDGS are usually fed to farm animals.
- Feedstocks for biofuels
may have to be produced under an accreditation scheme for
associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – see the HGCA
Bioethanol greenhouse gas calculator (www.hgca.com).
Grain quality for alcohol
production is best measured directly in the laboratory. To date,
about 400 wheat samples have been analysed by the Scotch Whisky
Research Institute (SWRI) using a method mimicking production of
potable alcohols. Biofuel processing would be expected to give
similar results.
Full report:
http://www.hgca.com/document.aspx?fn=load&media_id=2881&publicationId=3416
|
|
