Bioethanol production from Ataulfo mango supplemented with vermicompost leachate

Abstract

• Vermicompost leachate was used as nutrient supplement for the ethanologenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . • Dehydration of Ataulfo mango pulp allowed to increase the concentration of fermentable sugars in the fermentation process. • All tested Ataulfo dehydrated mango pulp treatments with vermicompost leachate showed bioethanol production. • Moderate concentration of added vermicompost leachate has a positive effect on bioethanol yield. Mango fruits are easily damaged by knocking during harvest and transport, producing agro-industrial waste with high content of fermentable sugars. The aim of this work was to assess the production of bioethanol from residual Ataulfo ( Mangifera indica L .) mango pulp, using vermicompost leachate as a nutritional supplement for ethanologenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the fermentation process. Mango pulp was subjected to a dehydration process at 60 °C in order to preserve fermentable sugars. Moisture and ash content, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), pH and total reducing sugar (TRS) concentration of the Ataulfo mango pulp were determined. Five treatments with different vermicompost leachate concentration (0%, 10%, 20%, 50% and 100%) were tested. The fermentation progress was evaluated by physicochemical characterization analysis (TSS and TRS) and accumulated production of CO 2 . Initial and final concentration of bioethanol was determined by HPLC. The highest bioethanol concentration of 44.67 ± 1.6 g/L was reached for treatment with 50% of vermicompost leachate. This result represents a viable option for using mango waste and vermicompost leachate as a renewable alternative for bioethanol production.