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Alfalfa fiber as a feedstock for ethanol and organic acids

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Abstract

Valuable co-products derived from fractionation of alfalfa herbage give the resulting fibrous fraction an economic advantage as a feed stock for ethanol or other organic products. Alfalfa fiber was saccharified and fermented with or without a liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment. The LHW pretreatment hydrolyzed approximately 60% of the original fiber, yielding a high cellulose residue and aliquid extract. These yielded predominantly hexoses and pentoses, respectively, after enzymatic saccharification. Yields of ethanol and lactic acid resulting from fermentations are given.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 1925 Linden Drive West, 53706, Madison, WI

    Richard G. Koegel

  2. Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

    Hassan K. Sreenath & Richard J. Straub

Authors
  1. Richard G. Koegel
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  2. Hassan K. Sreenath
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  3. Richard J. Straub
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Correspondence to Richard G. Koegel.

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Koegel, R.G., Sreenath, H.K. & Straub, R.J. Alfalfa fiber as a feedstock for ethanol and organic acids. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 77, 105–115 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:77:1-3:105

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:77:1-3:105

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