Proprietary Enzymes Blend for Cane Juice based distillery

Cane juice–based distilleries are somewhat “in between” grain and molasses:

• Feedstock = sucrose-rich juice (not starch-heavy like grain, not impurity-heavy like molasses).

• Main issues = invert sugars, dextran/pectin contamination, viscosity, microbial load.

• Therefore enzyme blends here are designed more for juice clarification, viscosity control, and sugar accessibility, less for starch breakdown.

1) Challenges in Cane Juice Fermentation

• Sucrose → Glucose/Fructose: Yeast ferments glucose/fructose, so fast invertase activity helps.

• Dextran contamination (from Leuconostoc bacteria in harvested cane) → increases viscosity, reduces filterability.

• Pectins and gums → haze, foaming, lower fermentation efficiency.

• Nutrient deficiency → cane juice is poor in nitrogen/FAN, sometimes slowing fermentation.

2) Proprietary Enzyme Blend – Typical Components

EnzymeFunctionWhy in Cane Juice DistilleryInvertase (β-fructofuranosidase)Hydrolyzes sucrose → glucose + fructoseYeast consumes monosaccharides faster; reduces lag phase.DextranaseHydrolyzes dextran (α-1,6-glucan)Lowers viscosity, reduces processing issues, recovers sucrose losses.Pectinase (polygalacturonase, pectate lyase)Breaks pectinsImproves juice clarification, reduces foaming.Cellulase / HemicellulaseBreaks fiber fines (bagasse particles)Improves clarification, lowers non-fermentables.ProteaseLiberates amino acids/peptidesBoosts FAN for yeast nutrition.Glucose oxidase or catalase (sometimes)Lowers microbial contamination by reducing oxygen and peroxide stressesExtends fermentation stability.

👉 Some blends also include nutrient adjuncts (urea, ammonium sulfate, zinc) premixed for fermentation performance.

4) Performance Gains Reported

• Fermentation speed: 10–15% reduction in fermentation time with invertase-rich blends.

• Ethanol yield: 2–4% higher yield (due to complete sugar conversion & less sugar loss to dextran).

• Viscosity reduction: up to 30–50% with dextranase inclusion, lowering energy/pumping costs.

• Clarification: Lower turbidity, improved settling in juice treatment tanks.

5) Suggested Application Strategy

1. Juice treatment (pre-fermentation): Add pectinase + cellulase + dextranase during clarification to reduce gums and viscosity.

2. Pre-fermentation hydrolysis: Add invertase to rapidly convert sucrose → glucose/fructose.

3. Fermentation tank: Dose protease + nutrient adjuncts to ensure strong yeast growth.

✅ Bottom line:
A proprietary cane-juice enzyme blend typically = Invertase + Dextranase + Pectinase (base enzymes), optionally fortified with protease, cellulase, hemicellulase, and nutrient adjuncts. These blends aim for faster fermentation, lower viscosity, higher ethanol yields, and better plant efficiency.