Abstract

BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM RICE & WHEAT HUSKS AFTER ACID HYDROLYSIS & YEAST FERMENTATION

Sabina Bano, Dr. Shweta Sao* and Dr. Harit Jha

Abstract

Bioethanol is a renewable resource that can be produced from fermented cellulosic biomass. The use of lignocellulosic materials from agricultural wastes provides a low-cost fermentative substrate. The aim of this study is to produce bioethanol from rice & wheat husks using fermentation process and to determine the effect of temperature on bioethanol yield. The samples were pre-treated with conc. Sulphuric acid at hydrolysis time (15-30 min.). After acid hydrolysis, the fermentation is carried out by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Six samples of rice & wheat were prepared at different temperatures to determine the effect of temperature on ethanol yield, the pH was kept constant at 6.0. Sugar concentrations were determined by dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) spectrophotometric method. Total carbohydrates were determined by Anthrone test. The ethanol concentrations were determined by hydrometer. Sugar concentrations after hydrolysis and bioethanol production of rice and wheat husks were 1.39- 2.10 mg/ml and 1.69-1.97 mg/ml, respectively. Total carbohydrates after hydrolysis and bioethanol production of rice and wheat husks were 2.33-2.69 mg/ml and 3.02-6.57 mg/ml, respectively. Highest ethanol concentrations were obtained at temperature 350c. This indicates that pH 6.0 and 350c was the optimum parameter for the yeast to produce ethanol. Data were analysed using 1 way Anova.

Keywords: Bioethanol, Biomass, Sugar concentration, Hydrometer.