Optimization of Production and Characterization of Bio-Fuel Produced from Cassava and Potato Peels

Abstract

The optimization of production and characterization of bio-fuel produced by enzyme fermentation of hydrolyzed mixed peel (cassava and potato peels) were carried out. Proximate analysis was used to characterize the substrate and response surface methodology was employed to optimize the fermentation process parameters while the kinetics and thermodynamics of the bio-ethanol production by enzyme fermentation were studied using Michealis-Menten model. The result obtained showed that the mixed peels contained hydrolyzable cellulose. The optimum conditions for the bio-ethanol yield of 80% by enzymatic (yeast) fermentation are temperature, 46oC, time, 6days, pH 5.7 and enzyme dosage, 2.2ml. The kinetics studies of the enzymatic (yeast) fermentation of hydrolyzed mixed peel obeyed the Michealis-Menten kinetic model and the reaction was feasible. The properties of the bio-ethanol were similar to normal ethanol. Therefore, the result has proved that hydrolyzable sugar from mixed Peels (Cassava and potato peels) is a good substrate for bio-ethanol production as biofuel via enzymatic fermentation.