Ethanol production fromJerusalem artichokewas optimised using simple technology according to tuber harvest
date. The optimal treatment forwinter juicewas the addition of 0.25 mL L − 1 of a commercial inulinase (17 U g−
1) and a juice heating at 52.5 °C for 60 min before the beginning of the fermentation. For autumn juice, the optimal
treatmentwas a previous heating at 80 °C for 15 min followed by the addition of 0.75 mL L− 1 of the inulinase
at 60 °C kept for 120 min, prior to the fermentation. Ethanol yields of 0.458 and 0.454 g g − 1were obtainedwith
autumn juice and winter ones, respectively. Fermentation was conducted at 30 °C by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
These results could be useful for a staggered and decentralised ethanol production from a low-requirement
crop which does not interfere with the food chain