Utilization of Sweet Sorghum as a Catch Crop for providing Raw Materials for the Production of Bioethanol and Biogas

Abstract

A combination of the production of bioethanol from sugar orstarch crops and biogas from the residues is reasonable for the optimization of small and decentralized plants. Sorghum could be an interesting alternative feedstock with high biomass potential. Compared to e.g. maize sorghum provides similar yields at a shorter vegetation period by less water demand. Moreover, it is an alternative to maize and wheat concerning the production of bioethanol. Different processing lines for the combined production of bioethanol and biogas were developed.
In the present study three different sorghum varieties (Sugargraze 1, Sugargraze 2 and Chopper) were compared regarding sugar, starch and overall biomass yields to provide data for the calculation of bioethanol and biogas potential.