American Chemical Society (
Symposium titled:
“Recent Innovations
in the Production of Sugar and Fuel Alcohol from Sugarcane and Sugarbeet”
In
Memory of Dr. Margaret A. Clarke
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Symposium Schedule
TECHNICAL
PROGRAM
Recent
Innovations in the Production of Sugar
and
Fuel
Alcohol from Sugarcane and Sugarbeet
Wednesday, April 9
Morning Session
Gillian
Eggleston, USDA-ARS-SRRC,
9:00AM Introductory
Remarks. Gillian Eggleston, Lead
Scientist, Southern
9:05AM Some
Problems and Solutions for Fuel Ethanol Fermentation from Sugarcane.
International Guest Speaker - Henrique Amorim,
President, Fermentec
S/C Ltda, Antonia Pizzinato
Sturion Street 1155, Jd.
Petropolis, Piracicaba, Brazil
9:40AM Advancements in the Production of Lignocellulosic Ethanol from Sugarcane Bagasse. Greg Luli,
Vice-President, Verenium Biofuels,
10:05AM Recent
Developments in Sugarcane Agriculture that Affect Sugarcane and Sugar Quality.
Ben Legendre, Acting Head, Audubon Sugar Institute, LSU AgCenter,
St. Gabriel, LA, USA and Gillian Eggleston, Lead Scientist, Southern Regional
Research Center, USDA-ARS, New Orleans, LA, USA
10:30AM BREAK
10:45AM New Biobased and Biofuel Products
from Sugar Beets. Arland Hotchkiss Jr., Lead Scientist, LinShu
Liu, Joy Doran Peterson, Marshall L. Fishman and Kevin B. Hicks, Eastern
Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, Philadelphia, PA, USA
11:10AM Gulucans, Biofilms and
Sugar: A Biochemical and Practical Perspective. Gregory L. Côté, Lead Scientist, National Center for Agricultural
Utilization Research, USDA-ARS, Peoria, IL, Timothy D. Leathers and Gillian
Eggleston, Southern Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, New Orleans, LA, USA
11:35AM Mannitol
- A New Chemical Marker for the Sugar Industry. Gillian Eggleston, Lead
Scientist, Southern Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, New Orleans, LA, Ben Legendre, Acting Head, Audubon Sugar
Institute, LSU AgCenter, St. Gabriel, LA, USA and Henrique
Amorim, President,
Fermentec S/C Ltda,
Piracicaba, Brazil.
12:00PM
LUNCH
Afternoon Session
Gillian Eggleston, USDA-ARS-SRRC,
2:00PM
VHP and VVHP Sugar Production. International Guest Speaker - Fernando Cullen
Sampaio, Consultant, FCS Engineering and Consulting,
Villa
2:40PM Commerial
Applications of Powdered Activated Carbons for Decolorizing Food Products such
as Fruit Juice Concentrates and Sugar. Gavin Kahn, President, CarboChem,
Inc., Ardmore, PA, and John R. Vercellotti,
President, V-Labs, Covington, LA, USA
3:05PM
BREAK
3:15
PM Cellulose-to-Sugars: Bioprocessing ‘Wastes’ to Biofuels,
Chemicals and Materials. Sharon Shoemaker, Executive Director, California
Institute of Food and Agricultural Research,
3:40PM
Innovations in Clarification
in the Sugar Industry. Mary An Godshall,
Technical Advisor, Sugar Processing Research Institute, Inc., New Orleans, LA,
USA, Marianne Mckee, Ronald Triche
and Charley Richard, Sugar Processing Research Institute, Inc., New Orleans,
LA, USA,
5:05PM
ADJOURN
Abstracts are presented in alphabetical
order according to first author
Some Problems and Solutions for the Ethanol
Fermentation from Sugarcane, Henrique Amorim, Fermentec S/C Ltda, Antonia Pizzinato Sturion Street 1155, Jd.
Petropolis, Piracicaba, Brazil, Fax: 55-1934291310, amorim@fermentec.com.br
Abstract
Sugar recovery in the
factory depends on the quality of the sugarcane, as well as the quality of the
sugar. For fuel ethanol production from
sugarcane juice or molasses, the sugarcane quality is also very important. Sugarcane quality not only involves the sugar
content, but also acids (including aconitic acid), dextran, starch, and other polysaccharides, bacteria and
yeast contaminants. Batch and continuous
fermentation processes are the most used in
Glucans, Biofilms and Sugar: A Biochemical
and Practical Perspective, Gregory L. Côté1, Timothy D. Leathers1 and Gillian
Eggleston2, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department
of Agriculture, 1National Center for Agricultural Utilization
Research, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, 61604, USA, 2Southern
Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124
Abstract
It has been known for many years that bacteria, most
notably Leuconostoc spp.,
can convert sugar into a high-molecular weight glucan
known as dextran.
While problematic in the sugar industry due to its potential for forming
biofilms, viscous slimes and for interfering with massecuite boiling and sucrose crystallization, dextran is also an important commercial product. However, it is not widely understood that Leuconostoc spp. can
produce not only the classic α(1→6)-linked dextran, but a number of other glucan
structures as well. These can range from
the highly soluble, low-viscosity alternan to the
completely insoluble α(1→3)-linked glucans similar to streptococcal mutan. Copolymers of these structures may also
exist. Our understanding of Leuconostoc biofilms
can benefit by studying the glucans they produce and
by studies analogous to those done on biofilms
prevalent in dental caries. Current
research results on Leuconostoc biofilms and on polysaccharides from hard-to-boil massecuite samples will be presented as examples.
Mannitol – A New Chemical Marker For The Sugar Industry, Gillian Eggleston1, Benjamin
Legendre2 and Henrique Amorim3,
1SRRC-USDA-ARS, 1100
Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124,
U.S.A., Tel: +1 504 286 4446, Fax: +1 504 286 4367, E-mail address: gillian@srrc.ars.usda.gov, 3 Louisiana State University , Agricultural Center, Sugar Research Station,
St. Gabriel, LA 70776, U.S.A. 3Fermentec Ltda.,
Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract
Mannitol, formed mainly by Leuconostoc
mesenteroides bacteria, is a sensitive marker
of sugarcane and sugarbeet deterioration that can
predict processing problems. The delivery
of consignments of deteriorated sugarcane or sugarbeets
to factories can detrimentally affect multiple process units, and even lead to
a factory shut-down. An enzymatic
factory method that is rapid, simple, and inexpensive is now available to measure
mannitol in consignment juices at factories. A strong polynomial relationship (R2=0.912)
existed between mannitol and haze dextran
(a-(1→6)-a-D-glucan) in juices obtained across
a three month processing season at a sugarcane factory. Mannitol
concentrations were usually higher than concentrations of haze and monoclonal
antibody dextran, which indicates (i) the usefulness and higher sensitivity of mannitol to better predict sugarcane deterioration from Leuconostoc and other bacteria than dextran, and (ii) the underestimation by sugar industry
personnel of the relatively large amounts of mannitol
present in deteriorated sugarcane.
Greater than ~2500 ppm/%Brix mannitol in juice predicts downstream processing
problems. Mannitol
has also been proved to be an advantageous indicator of the bacterial
contamination in fuel alcohol fermentations from sugarcane juice or molasses,
and its presence can account for unexpected yield drops.
Innovations
in Clarification in the Sugar Industry, Mary An Godshall, McKee, M, Triche, R., and
Richard, Charley. Sugar Processing Research Institute, Inc.,
Abstract
Clarification is a critical unit operation
in sugar manufacture. This is true for the manufacture of raw sugar from cane
juice, refined sugar from raw sugar, and beet sugar from sugarbeets. Traditional lime clarification has been in
use from the earliest days, but today, with greater demands for quality, newer
processes are being examined. The
purpose of clarification is to remove fine particles, turbidity and colloidal
material. Very good clarification, with the
use of some adjuncts, such as flocculents, has the
added benefit of removing significant amounts of color. Aluminum-based compounds may provide
potential improvement for clarification.
These have a long history of use in purification in other industries and
are primary chemicals used to treat drinking water. We report a series of laboratory and mill
experiments using cationic aluminum polymer blends with polyamine. These compounds showed dramatic improvements
in removal of turbidity, color and polysaccharides during traditional lime clarification.
New
Biobased and Biofuel Products
from Sugar Beets, Arland T.
Hotchkiss Jr.1, LinShu
Liu1, Joy Doran Peterson2, Marshall L. Fishman1,
and Kevin B. Hicks1. (1) Crop Conversion Science and Engineering,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional
Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA
19038-8551, Fax: 215-233-6406, arland.hotchkiss@ars.usda.gov, (2) Department of
Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
Abstract
Traditional processing of sugar beets into
sugar produces low-value by-products such as sugar beet pulp and molasses, plus
high-value betaine. However, regulatory reform to
remove trade tariffs in Europe and the need for renewable sources of fuel have
driven the search for more valuable by-products and the use of sugar beets as a
feedstock for ethanol production. Sugar beet pulp contains valuable
polysaccharides such as a low molecular weight, branched pectin and parenchyma
cellulose that have excellent properties as emulsifiers. Additionally, a sugar
beet pulp/polylactic acid (PLA) composite thermoplastic
was developed with mechanical properties equivalent to PLA alone but with less
density and lower cost. A pectin-reduced sugar beet pulp was used for
fermentation by Escherichia coli LY01 to produce ethanol following pectinase treatment. Ethanol yields were equivalent to that
produced from pure cellulose even though the sugar beet pulp feedstock
contained low levels of glucose and contained arabinose-rich
pectin. Finally, as the cost of corn-derived syrups increases due to the demand
for ethanol, sugar beet molasses is being investigated as an alternative
feedstock for microbial fermentation to produce valuable polysaccharides such
as xanthan.
Commercial Applications
of Powdered Activated Carbons for Decolorizing Food Products such as Fruit Juice
Concentrates and sugar. Gavin Kahn1 and John R.
Vercellotti2.
(1)Carbochem Inc.,
Abstract
Carbochem has developed proprietary grades of activated carbon
from coal and wood to achieve specific pore and particle size distributions. Tailor-made
carbons are used worldwide in sugar refining, hot melting of raw sugar prior to
soft drink manufacturing, partitioning off-flavors such as
5-hydroxymethylfurfural from high fructose corn syrup, and deodorizing drinking
water from algae blooms in reservoirs.
Removal of colorants, off-flavors, mycotoxins,
and pesticides from fruit juice concentrates will illustrate the complex
impurities these carbons can resolve.
Advancements in the Production of Lignocellulosic Ethanol from
Sugarcane Bagasse, Gregory Luli,
Research
Group, Verenium BioFuels,
Abstract
Verenium BioFuels
continues to make advancements in the production of lignocellulosic ethanol at its
site in
Recent Developments in Sugarcane Agriculture that
Affect Cane and Sugar Quality, Benjamin
Legendre1 and Gillian Eggleston2 ,
1
Audubon Sugar Institute,
Abstract
Extensive research has shown that sugarcane quality
directly affects sugar yield and sugar quality.
In many production systems, both agricultural and manufacturing, there
is conflict between productivity in the field and quality of sugar. High productivity and/or throughput compete
with high product quality. However,
quality can be influenced by ever-changing developments in sugarcane
agriculture and manufacturing including the introduction of new cultivars, use
of chemical ripeners, changes in cultural practices
and harvesting systems and the introduction into an industry of new disease and
insect pests. These developments
differentially affect the yield of sugar per unit area as well as have a
dramatic impact on cane and juice quality and have a direct bearing on sugar
quality. Cane and sugar quality have
taken on new meaning today with the vertical integration of sugar operations
from field to refinery to the consumer.
The new refinery today is seeking very high pol
(VHP) sugar (99.2 pol) and very low color (VLC) sugar
(>2200 ICUMSA units).
VHP and VVHP
Sugar Production, Fernando Cullen Sampaio, FCS Engineering and Consulting, Rua
Alvaro Bosco, 95 apto 111V,
Villa Bella 13087-723,
Abstract
Due to the growing demand for Brazilian VHP (Very High
Polarization) and VVHP (Very Very High Polarization)
raw sugars, mainly by overseas markets, there is a need for better techniques
to provide such high quality products, better use of the installed capabilities
currently in sugarcane factories, good factory thermal balance, and incremental
improvements in industrial efficiency.
Technical-economical solutions to address these needs are currently
considered a major priority by research centers, sugar businesses, and
Brazilian sugar technologists. This
paper aims to discuss the alternative engineering processes that are currently
being applied in Brazilian Sugar Mills for VHP or VVHP production, which range
from the arrival of sugarcane at the factory to the sugar drying process. This also includes techniques that allow all
the products specifications to be met, including market requirements and the
effects of variations in the quality of raw material. Also included are the
influences of increased mechanization in sugarcane harvesting and incremental
restrictions in sugarcane pre-harvest burning, as well as the problems and
solutions related to final product storage.
Finally, some results from recent harvests will be presented that show a
sugar factory yield of above 80% even when two massecuite
systems were utilitzed, and up to 10% increments in
plant capacity when VHP production capacity was compared to the white sugar
production.
Cellulose-to-sugars: Bioprocessing
‘Wastes’ to Biofuels, Chemicals and
Materials. Sharon P. Shoemaker, Ph.D.,
Director, California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research, University of
California, Davis, CA 95616 U.S.A.
Abstract
There is a major research and development thrust in
the
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