Corn stover as feedstock for the production of ethanol: chemical composition of different anatomical fractions and varieties

The available grain corn stover produced in Belgium is estimated at 290 000 dry tons, a sufficient amount to supply a biorefinery. Differences regarding size, prematurity, and drying speed have been observed among the cultivated grain corn varieties in Wallonia (Belgium). This study aims to evaluate the variation in composition of different anatomical fractions (stalks, leaves, cobs, and husks) of three Walloon varieties of grain corn stover (SyMultitop, Padrino, and Alduna) with significant production volumes. In addition, the Padrino variety was assessed for variation in chemical composition at three harvesting times. Walloon grain corn stover contains large amounts of polysaccharides (33.4% to 41.3% of glucans and 13.9% to 28.2% of xylans) and lignin (10.4% to 15.3%). Some differences were noted between varieties and anatomical fractions. Depending on how the feedstock is harvested, it is possible to produce between 79 and 81 M liters of ethanol per year without adversely affecting soil sustainability. (C) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd