Ethanol fermentation from sugarcane at different maturities

▶ This work presents data of experiments done employing cane particles obtained from sugarcane at different growth stages until maturation in order to estimate the sugarcane growth stage where production of ethanol and carbohydrate consumption were optimized. It shows an increasing trend in ethanol production as a function of DAP (days after planting) and a plateau reached after 225 DAP and a maximum value between 300 and 325 DAP. The NA56 cane variety is usually harvested around 350 DAP for commercial sugar production. Hence a difference of approximately 25 days less in the field might be needed for maximum ethanol production. On the other hand, it was clear from the data that cane harvesting for ethanol production should not be done after the recommended DAP for commerial sugar production because of poor fructose consumption by yeast.