Feasibility of simultaneous saccharification and juice co-fermentation on hydrothermal pretreated sweet sorghum bagasse for ethanol production

► We present a novel concept for the fermentation of sweet sorghum carbohydrates. ► Liquid hot water was shown to be an adequate pretreatment method to solubilize hemicellulose from sweet sorghum bagasse. ► We present a mathematical equation for the solubilization of hemicellulose. ► With the simultaneous fermentation of dewatered pretreated bagasse and juice economical ethanol concentrations were feasible. ► Cellulose convertibility after 168 h was not affected by the addition of juice.