Ethanol-Production Performance of Ozone-Treated Tannin Grain Sorghum Flour1

ABSTRACT Ozone has been reported as being able to degrade macromolecules such as cellulose, starch, lignins, and tannins in the textile, pulping, and water-treatment industries. Thus, we hypothesized that ozone treatment may also inactivate tannin activity and increase fermentation efficiency of tannin sorghum lines. The objective of this research was to study the physicochemical properties of ozone-treated whole tannin grain sorghum flour and its fermentation performance in ethanol production. Results showed that the ethanol yields from ozone-treated tannin grain sorghums were significantly higher than yields from the untreated flour. The fermentation efficiency of ozone-treated tannin grain sorghum was approximately 90%, which was 8–14% higher than that of untreated samples at the 36th hr of fermentation. At the end of 72 hr of fermentation, the efficiencies of ozone-treated sorghum flour were 2–5% higher than those of untreated samples. Measured tannin levels of ozone-treated samples decreased signific...