Integration of Corn and Cane for Ethanol Production: Effects of Lactobacilli Contamination on Fermentative Parameters and Use of Ionizing Radiation Treatment for Disinfection

Recently, in Brazil, corn ethanol industries are being installed and the integration with sugar/energy-cane has been proposed, using bagasse for cogeneration juice to dilute corn. However, this may have some limitations, such as quality of cane potential contamination by microorganisms brought from field. In article, we first tested effects mixing energy on fermentative parameters. We also assessed Lactobacilli. organic acids produced during fermentation parameters proposed use ionizing radiation replace antibiotics a disinfection control method. Our results showed that does not any negative effect parameters, including production. The considerably increased production acetic, lactic, succinic acid, reducing pH content 89.2 g L−1 sterilized treatment 72.9 contaminated treatment. Therefore, between be applied an industrial scale, it is essential effective before fermentation. Ionizing (20 kGy) virtually disinfected wort, showing itself promising technology; however, economic viability study adopting industry should carried out.