Cellulosic Ethanol Production Potential From Bagasse Of Elite Sugarcane Varieties/Clones

Sugarcane is one of the most efficient crops for generation of liquid biofuels. In addition to juice, bagasse represents an additional abundant lignocellulosic biomass that has great potential to increase ethanol production from this crop. To achieve efficient conversion of sugarcane bagasse into ethanol, various components that affect recalcitrance of bagasse as well as generation of fermentable sugars from it need to be studied. In the present study, bagasse of 29 sugarcane clones/varieties were analyzed for total solids, moisture content, ethanol extractives, and different cell wall components. Among all sugarcane varieties/clones studied, commercial sugarcane variety CoPb 92 variety was found to be the best in terms of ethanol production due to significantly high holocellulose and cellulose content of 69.75% and 39.55% along with low lignin content of 20.05%. The juice of this variety was found to contain 20.57%, 0.54% and 18.55% of total sugars, reducing sugars and sucrose content, respectively. The total ethanol production potential from juice and bagasse of sugarcane variety CoPb 92 was calculated to be 173.80L per tonne cane. Sugarcane variety CoPb 92, thus, has a great potential to be used for bioethanol production.