Bioethanol production from sugarcane bagasse using fermentation process

Abstract

The aim of this study is to produce bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse using fermentation process and to determine the effect of pH and temperature on bioethanol yield. Enzymes such as alpha- amylase and glucoamylase were used to breakdown the cellulose in sugarcane bagasse. Saccharomyces cerevisiea, (yeast) also was used in the experiment for fermentation. Five samples were prepared at different pH was varied to determine the effects of pH on ethanol yield at 37° C and another five samples were prepared to determine the effect of temperature on ethanol yield, the pH was kept constant at 4.5. The ethanol concentrations were determined by running the samples in High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that at highest ethanol concentration was obtained pH 4.5 and temperature 35° C. This indicated that pH 4.5 and 35°C was the optimum parameter for the yeast to produce ethanol.