Abstract: Present-day harvest methods for sweet sorghum are labor intensive, and/or require that large quantities of matter be removed to a central location for processing. A field harvesting process for harvesting and further processing sweet sorghum includes cutting the crop and reducing it to its separated juice and solids in the field. Separation is carried out using a roller press that is water-washed with water removed from the juices in a nanofiltration process. The juice is stored and fermented on the farm, followed by distillation by a mobile distillation process to separate the valuable alcohol from the stillage.

Abstract: Present-day harvest methods for sweet sorghum are labor intensive, and/or require that large quantities of matter be removed to a central location for processing. A field harvesting process for harvesting and further processing sweet sorghum includes cutting the crop and reducing it to its separated juice and solids in the field. The juice is stored and fermented on the farm, followed by distillation by a mobile distillation process to separate the valuable alcohol from the stillage.

Abstract: Present-day harvest methods for sweet sorghum are labor intensive, and/or require that large quantities of matter be removed to a central location for processing. A field harvester for sweet sorghum would cut the crop and reduce it to its separated juice and solids in the field. A cutter/feeder unit cuts the crop off and feeds it into a multiple roller press where most of the juice is removed. An optional screw press may be used to further remove juices from the solids. The solids are filtered from the juice using an endless belt filter press unit. The pH of the juice may be adjusted by the addition of some acid to inhibit bacterial action. The solids may optionally be pelletized for use as livestock feed or for fuel. The juice is temporarily stored on the harvester in a mounted or pull-behind tank before it is transferred, ultimately, to a nearby storage/processing location.