Ana Matin

Progress in ethanol production from corn kernel by applying cooking pre-treatment

In order to improve technological properties of corn kernel for ethanol production, samples were treated with a hydrothermal pre-treatment of cooking (steaming), prior to drying. Two types of cooking process parameters were applied; steam pressure of 0.5 bars during a 10 min period, and steam pressure of 1.5 bars during a 30 min period. Afterwards, samples were dried at four different temperatures, 70, 90, 110 and 130 degrees C. Control sample was also submitted to the aforementioned drying parameters. Since the results showed that starch utilization, due to the gelatinization process, was considerably higher in the samples pre-treated before the ethanol production process, it was found that the cooking treatment had a positive effect on ethanol yield from corn kernel. Therefore, the highest ethanol yield was found in the corn kernel samples cooked for 30 min at steam pressure 1.5 bars and dried at 130 degrees C. Due to the similarity of processes used for starch fermentation, introduction of cooking pre-treatment will not significantly increase the overall ethanol production costs, whereas it will result in significantly higher ethanol yield.

Bioethanol production from corn kernel grown with different cropping intensities.

The aim of this paper is to determine the level of influence of the applied cropping intensity on the water release speed from the kernel on the field and in the process of convection drying, on the content of starch and on the yield of ethanol in five different corn hybrids belonging to the same vegetation group.

Biomass valorisation of Arundo donax L., Miscanthus × giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita for biofuel production

Abstract In the context of the growing demand for biomass, which is being encouraged by the EU directives on the promotion of the use of renewable energy, recent investigations have been increasingly focused on fast-growing energy crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the energy properties of three types of agricultural energy crops: Arundo donax L., Miscanthus × giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita. This investigation looked into the content of non-combustible and combustible matter, higher and lower heating values, lignocellulose content, and biomass macro-elements. The results indicate that the energy values of these crops are comparable, while their lignocellulose content shows significant variations. Thus, Arundo donax L. can best be utilised as solid biofuel due to its highest lignin content, while Miscanthus × giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita L. can be used for both liquid and solid biofuels production. As far as Arundo donax L. is concerned, a higher ash level should be taken into consideration.

Energetska vrijednost poljoprivrednih ostataka pira (Triticum spelta L.) − zaboravljene kulture

Pir, krupnik ili dinkel (Lat. Triticum spelta) jedna je od najstarijih žitarica, a potjece iz Azije. Od broncanog doba do srednjeg vijeka u Europi je bio vrlo važna žitarica. Nakon upotrebe zrna u prehrambene svrhe ostaje biomasa pira kao nusproizvod odnosno otpad. Rastuce cijene fosilnih goriva i sve vece zabrinutosti oko klimatskih promjena stvaraju sve vecu potražnju za novim izvorima sirovine za održivu proizvodnju topline. U posljednjih nekoliko godina istraživanja su pokazala pozitivne ucinke uporabe poljoprivrednih ostataka za proizvodnju energije. Zrno pira prerađuje se u razlicite svrhe, dok pljeve, pljevice te stabljika zaostaju kao nusproizvod odnosno ostatak u proizvodnji. Stoga je znacajno provesti istraživanje kako bi se utvrdila energetska (goriva) svojstva pljeve i pljevice te stabljike pira. U radu su obuhvacene dvije sorte pira BcVigor i Ostro. Nakon prikupljenih i homogeniziranih uzoraka za svaku sortu određene su gornje i donje ogrjevne vrijednosti (Hg i Hd). Rezultati dobiveni u ovom istraživanju pokazali su da su pljeve i pljevice te stabljika pira, kao ostatak nakon upotrebe zrna u prehrambene svrhe, vrlo kvalitetna sirovina za proizvodnju energije zbog svoje visoke ogrjevne vrijednosti: gornja ogrijevna vrijednost stabljike sorte BcVigor iznosi 17.367 MJ/kg, a stabljike sorte Ostro 17.224 MJ/kg dok gornja ogrijevna vrijednost pljeve i pljevice sorte Ostro iznosi16.402 MJ/kg, a sorte BcVigor 16.650 MJ/kg.

Water release rate from corn kernel affected by cropping intensity

The average field kernel drying rate (water release rate) was not the identical in all growing seasons. Similar kernel drydown rates in the field are observed in 2002 and 2003 and they were much slower than drydown rates in the field in 2001. Although in the IPS the kernel moisture loss in the field is faster, the difference between production systems was not significant. All the hybrids, except Bc Jumbo 48, had the fastest average kernel drydown rate in 2001. Also, all the hybrids, except Bc Jumbo 48, had the fastest average kernel drydown rate in the IPS. Chosen hybrids had a significant kernel drydown rates in the field and responded differently in drydown rate under the impact of climatic conditions in growing seasons.

Energy valorization of Miscanthus x giganteus biomass: A case study in Croatia

The aim of this study is to determine the calorific values, chemical composition (proximate and ultimate analysis, micro and macro elements) and cell structure (composition of lignocellulose) of Miscanthus x giganteus biomass cultivated in Croatian. Research results represents the average values of biomass (n = 108) cultivated at two locations in Croatia (Bistra, Medvednica), during the three-year research period, three harvest periods (autumn, winter, spring) per year and two fertilizer treatments (N0 i N50). Determined average values of some important parameters are: low calorific value - 17.25 MJ/kg, ash content - 1.49 %, carbon content - 48.75 %, nitrogen content - 0.47 %, sulfur content - 0.07 %, cellulose content - 49.22 % and lignin content - 29.25 %. The obtained results have shown that Miscanthus x giganteus has potential to be a significant source of good quality raw material in the production of solids biofuels.

Effects of different air drying temperature on sunflower seeds oil and ash content

The aim of this paper was to determine the impact of different air temperature (60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C) at air drying velocity of 1.0 ms-1 during convection drying thermal process on the sunflower seeds oil and ash content. The research was conducted at 4 different sunflower seeds hybrid Apollo, NK Brio, PR 63 and PR 90 A 63 D 82, which by their characteristics are early and medium early hybrids.. Based on the results, the curve of water speed release from the sunflower seeds, the activation energy, as well as changes in oil content and ash content before and after the convective drying was obtained. It was established that the NK Brio hybrid fastest release water compared to other hybrids during drying which is confirmed by minimum value of activation energy and that the increasing of air drying temperature increases oil content, while reduces ash content.

MINERAL COMPOSITION OF CORN PLANT MATERIAL AFTER FERTILIZATION WITH FERMENTED MEAT-BONE MEAL

Based on the conducted investigations, after a two-year research of meat-bone meal as a biofertilizer (in 8 combinations and 3 repetitions) on corn hybrids, it can be determined that the lowest plant mass was recorded in the control combination, where no fertilizer was applied, and somewhat higher plant mass was recorded in those combinations where organic fertilizers in different dosages were applied. A significant increase in plant mass was found in combinations with only mineral fertilizer applied and in combinations with half dosage of mineral fertilizer and different shares of organic fertilizer. Further, plants were larger and had larger number of leaves when treated with half-dosage mineral fertilizer in combination with different dosages of organic fertilizer, and when treated with mineral fertilizer only. The fertilizer tests with fermented MBM enable to conclude that the mineral substances content (N, P2O5, K2O, Ca and Mg) ranged in mean values both in plant material and in kernel, and different values are conditioned by total mass and ion interactions.