Research article

Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass wastes by fermentation of the hydrolyzates

^*1Etonihu AC and ²Idoko O

¹Chemistry Department, Nasarawa State University, PMB 1022, Keffi, Nigeria

²Chemistry Advanced Laboratory, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) Abuja, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: criseto@yahoo.com, Tel; +234(0)8036863275

Accepted 23 September 2014

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass wastes from Moringa oleifera seed pods, sawdust and office waste papers were treated using four different hydrolytic methods with 18M H₂SO₄, 0.6M H₂SO₄ and 0.5M alkaline pretreatment/dilute acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. The hydrolyzates were fermented at room temperature using Saccharomyces cerevisiae at varied fermentation periods between 1 – 10 days. At intervals of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days, the fermented samples were taken for ethanol quantification. The results of the analyses showed increased ethanol yield (day 1 to day 7) but decreased thereafter. Among the lignocellulosic biomass wastes, the highest yield of ethanol was in the order waste paper > Moringa oleifera seed pods > sawdust. The enzymatic method yielded significantly (P > 0.10) more ethanol than the chemical methods, and increased as the fermentation period increased (from day 1 to day 10). Since lignocellulosic biomass wastes are renewable and readily available, such conversions could lead to reduction of green house gas emission thereby ameliorating the problem of global warming, conserving Nigeria’s overstretched fossil fuel, solving some energy crises, curbing food supply shortage, and conserve foreign exchange.

Keywords: Agro-waste, Bioethanol, Biomass, Hydrolyzate, Lignocellulosic