Direct Bioconversion of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches for Bioethanol Production By Solid State Bioconversion

Abstract

The bioethanol production was conducted by utilizing agriculture waste, palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB) with the aid of T. harzianum and yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae using solid state bioconversion method. The compatibility of various fungal strains was done as to develop the direct bioconversion process of compatible mixed culture. Analyzes such ethanol estimation, reducing sugar and glucosamine as growth indicator were conducted in order to select the best experimented run for optimization. The optimization of process conditions, by using central composite design (CCD) was carried out. Optimization of process condition was done with varied level of moisture content, pH, inoculum size, concentration of co-substrate (wheat flour) and mineral solutions. Statistical analysis showed that the optimum process condition for moisture content was 50% (v/w), pH of 4, inoculum size of 10% (v/v), concentration of wheat flour of 1% (v/v) and mineral solutions 1%(v/v). In this study, the application levels of the methods of environmental management in regards to the maximum production were determined. The final optimization with the developed process conditions indicated that the maximum production was increased from 14.315 (v/v) to 34.785(v/v).