Evaluation and analysis of two village level models for sweet sorghum cane processing in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

H.D. Z. Layaoen

Issue Date

12-2013

Abstract

Two sweet sorghum cane processing systems consisting of a stationary cane mill (SCM) and a mobile cane mill (MCM) that became operational as a village-level sweet sorghum processing system in Ilocos Norte [Philippines] were evaluated. With SCM, the stalk crusher was permanently established in barangay [village] Bungon, Batac, Ilocos Norte as the central processing station (CPS). Harvested stalks were hauled by trucks from production sited to the CPS for processing. For the MCM model, a reconditioned jeep carries the crusher to the plantation sire were stalks are crushed. Extracted juices were hauled to the CPS for processing. Cost wise, MCM is Php 100,000 more expensive than SCM (PhP 150,000) due to the cost of the jeep. The stakeholders had high confidence that the two village level cane mill systems could fastrack sweet sorghum processing into a desired product which could translate to income generation and profitability. The advantages of SCM over MCM are the lower energy cost and lower biomass fuel cost of pasteurization due to the 80% bagasse component of fuel. With the MCM, biomass weight lost due to staging did not occur and crushing efficiency (CE) and juice yield were greater by 5.15% and 309 kg, respectively than the SCM.This must be due to the closer roller clearance in MCM. The CE of a modified laboratory model (MCM) was reported at 51.6% greater by 22.15% than the SCM (29.45%) and by 16.95% than the MCM (34.6%). Such factors should be given particular consideration in the SCM or MCM to increase CE and make them more effective for village level sweet sorghum processing. If improved, the SCM and MCM systems will be significant initiatives which could be replicated for use in sweet sorghum communities intending to indulge in the bioethanol industry.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463X

Volume

38

Issue

3

Page

18-30

Document Type

Article

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Physical Description

illustrations; charts; graphs; tables

Language

English

Subject

Sorghum; Biogas; Biofuels; Biomass

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SORGHUM BICOLOR; BIOGAS; BIOFUELS; BIOMASS; PROCESSING; PHILIPPINES

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