부산대학교 도서관

The purpose of this research experiment was to grow six different varieties of sweet varieties of sweet sorghum in order to determine which variety would be the most suitable and efficient for the production of ethanol, a biofuel. The six varieties: Rox Orange, Topper, Sugar Drip, Black Amber Cane, Iowa Sweet, and Mennonite, were grown in a hydroponic system within a greenhouse in order to determine which variety grew most efficiently in terms of biomass, leaf area, sugar production thus ethanol production. Each sorghum plant was harvested to obtain the biomass of the leaves and stems, area of the leaves, sugar content (Brix %), and % ethanol production upon primary fermentation. Correlation charts and graphs were constructed for data analysis to compare all the varieties and variables measured throughout the study. The numbers obtained were used to determine which variety was the most efficient producer of sugar and ethanol per unit biomass, deeming it the most suitable variety for biofuel production. After an indepth analysis it was determined that Rox Orange is the most efficient variety in terms of ethanol production per unit biomass, on a small or large scale, using hydroponics.