Paper Title
Effect of Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation Conditions of Triticale Starch on the Efficiency of Process and Composition of the Distillates Obtained

Abstract
Polish distilleries are the producers of agricultural distillate for centuries. Ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin (i.e. rectified spirit) is used in many industries, among others, for production of high-quality spirit beverages. Poland is the fourth largest producer of vodka in the world. Polish vodka is strictly regulated and protected thanks to its standing as a geographical indication under EU law. The number of distilleries in Poland in recent years drastically decreases. The reduction of the costs of agricultural distillate production may be achieved by improvement of conditions of fermentation process. The aim of this study was to compare the fermentation efficiency of triticale-based mashes with pH 3.7 and 4.5, and the content of main fermentation by-products, i.e. methanol and acetaldehyde in the obtained agricultural distillates. . The triticale mashes were prepared by presureless starch liberation methods (PLS) using native (granular) starch (max temperature of process - 50�C) or gelatinized starch (max temperature of process - 90�C). The ethanol production in this work was carried out in one-step method by simultaneous saccharification (using amylolytic enzyme preparations of microbial origin) and fermentation (SSF). Based on the survey concluded that use of distillery mashes with native starch, the correct starch saccharification and fermentation was observed, providing ethanol yield from 79% for mashes with pH 4.5 to 85% for mashes with pH 3.7 (of the theoretical value). An interesting phenomenon was lower ethanol yield for mashes with gelatinized starch, which ranged from 74% (for mashes with pH 3,7) to 78% (for mashes about pH 4,5) of the theoretical yield. All obtained agricultural distillates, irespective of method of mash preparation and its pH, were characterized by low concentrations of undesirable compounds, such as acetaldehyde and methanol. The concentrations of acetaldehyde fulfilled the requirements concerning its content in agricultural distillates (<100 mg/L absolute alcohol). Moreover, all tested distillates meet the requirements of the EU Regulation no. 110/2008, which stipulates that maximum methanol content in ethyl alcohol (rectified spirit) of agricultural origin shall amount to 30 g/hL absolute alcohol (i.e., 300 mg/L).