Alfalfa fiber as a feedstock for ethanol and organic acids

Valuable co-products derived from fractionation of alfalfa herbage give the resulting fibrous fraction an economic advantage as a feedstock for ethano l or other organic products. Alfalfa fiber was saccharified and fermented w ith or without a liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment. The LHW pretreatment hydrolyzed approximately 60% of the original fiber, yielding a high cellulo se residue and a liquid extract. These yielded predominantly hexoses and pe ntoses, respectively, after enzymatic saccharification. Yields of ethanol a nd lactic acid resulting from fermentations are given.