ESTIMATES OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM SUGAR CANE FEEDSTOCKS

This paper reports some observations regarding the potential production levels of ethanol from various feedstocks available in a sugar factory. The methods forcalculating the yields of ethanol from sugar factory sources are investigated and a preferred method is described which could be used as a standard for comparing ethanol yields. The method determines the yields for the conversion of C6 sugars to ethanol based on the Gay-Lussac equation for fermentation. The potential feedstocks available to a sugar factory for the production of ethanol include raw sugar, C molasses (final molasses), B molasses, A molasses, evaporator supply juice (ESJ), secondary express juice and bagasse. The potential production of ethanol from each source is estimated (where possible) for Australia, based on the mean production data for five seasons from 1996 to 2000. The Australian cane sugar industry will find difficulty in supplying the potential market demand for the E10 petrol blend in Queensland with ethanol produced solely from final molasses. Alternative feedstocks will be required.