Production of alcohol from cassava tubers

Recently, the research group of the Institute of Tropical Biology in Ho Chi Minh City has successfully researched the method of producing alcohol (Ethylic) from raw materials of cassava root and tapioca residue (cassava). With this new technology will open a new source of raw materials to meet the alcoholic industry of Vietnam today.

Technology to produce alcohol from cassava can also collect many other products with high economic value.(Photo: ND)

Dr. Vo Thi Hanh, chairman of the project to produce alcohol from agricultural products by starch sugar technology, said: In Vietnam, alcohol is produced mainly from raw sugar cane material. Each year, the total alcohol production capacity in the whole country reaches 25 million liters, concentrating in 3 big factories with a capacity of 15,000-30,000 liters / day, Hiep Hoa and Lam Son sugar factories, Binh Tay alcohol brewery. and hundreds of small-scale production facilities with a capacity of 3,000-5,000 liters / day.

However, through surveys, alcohol production units are facing many difficulties. Due to too expensive raw materials and obsolete technology, it costs a lot of production costs so the products are not highly competitive.

To obtain 1 liter of alcohol requires 4 kg of molasses. Each kg of price is 1,600 VND / kg, the cost of 1 liter of alcohol costs about 6,400 VND for material costs, not including other expenses.

Meanwhile, if using cassava root or tapioca, the production cost will be greatly reduced, this is the available material source in the country and can be produced on a large scale, the price is relatively cheap. One kilogram of average fresh cassava costs about 600 VND / kg, compared to cheap sugar cane molasses nearly two thirds of the cost. Tapioca residue is a waste product of wheat starch processing plants. According to statistics across the country there are about 28 flour mills.

The method of starch chemistry will be carried out according to the process including : crushed material, then proceed with the process of starchy sugar, the final fermentation is the process of distillation of the product. The advantages of starch sugar technology are that they can take advantage of the raw materials more completely, so this method will help manufacturers reduce the amount of raw materials, maximizing cost savings. To have 1 liter of 94.5% alcohol only costs about 2.5 kg of tapioca or 15 kg of tapioca residue, so the cost of production will be much cheaper.

Recently, in Vietnam, there have been places where using dry cassava for alcohol production, but the alcoholic production efficiency is still low, it costs 3.5 kg of cassava / liter. The source of tapioca residue is still in place.

Dr. Hanh added : if using cassava or tapioca residue to produce alcohol, not only utilize waste products of wheat starch factories but also reduce the environmental pollution caused by drying residues. noodles to produce animal feed. In tapioca residue with 80% moisture, it takes a period of sun exposure, so tapioca is susceptible to bacteria causing unpleasant odors to affect the surrounding environment.

Technology of Ethylic alcohol production from cassava, in addition to the main product is alcohol, producers can also collect more products with high economic value from waste sources.

That is, the amount of liquid CO2 obtained during the fermentation process turns into 94.5% alcohol distillation. From the waste water source, it is possible to make microbial fertilizer and peat. The amount of waste material discharged after the distillation process can also be used for microbial catalysts to activate the fermentation process to produce biological preparations for aquaculture. Up to now, there has been no unit in Vietnam producing alcohol from tapioca residue.

Using starch sugar method to produce industrial Ethylic alcohol from wheat roots or tapioca residue, in addition to promoting the production of alcohol materials, creating a stable output for agricultural products (cassava roots) , it also creates favorable conditions for the production of ethanol-fueled biofuel sources - Gasohol), which is currently not available in our country.