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Our Bureau

Chennai , Aug 19

SCIENTISTS in the US are trying to develop new varieties of barley to produce ethanol from it.

The scientists of the Agriculture Research Service, an arm of the US Department of Agriculture, have examined over 100 barley varieties and have narrowed their focus to a few varieties.

One reason for the scientists to look to barley as a source to produce ethanol is to overcome the non-availability of corn or sugarcane in some areas. For example in the US, corn is not available in the east and west coasts, whereas barley is available in plenty.

But barley's major handicap is that it has a lower starch content compared to corn. Starch content in barley is 50-55 per cent compared with 72 per cent in corn.

Also, barley cannot be used as a feedstock for ethanol production as it has an abrasive hull. These hulls cause expensive wear and tear problems on milling equipment. Removing the hull can help but scientists are looking at hull-less barley.

Barley also contains a troublesome polysaccharide, called beta-glucan, that makes barley mash too viscous to mix, ferment, and distil economically. Therefore, scientists are developing new milling processes to remove beta-glucans before fermentation. They are also studying methods to separate low-starch barley kernels into a starch-enriched stream for efficient ethanol production.

A few hull-less varieties that lose their hull during harvesting have been developed. These varieties, which are seen promising, have more starch and protein but less fibre than hulled varieties.

Once the new varieties are zeroed in, scientists are hope that these can address the issues of energy. Such strains could also fetch better prices for the growers, according to a research service release.

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Scientists developing new barley strains to help produce ethanol

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