Comparative assessment of the co-production of bioethanol and single cell proteins from Sugarcane Bagasse, Rice Husks, and cassava peels using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

This work compares various waste sources of feedstock (cassava peels, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husks) for the co-production of bioethanol and single cell protein using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae as fermentation enzyme. Sulphuric acid solution was used for the pre-treatment, dilute hydrochloric acid was used for hydrolysis, temperature, time, and pH of 131.8 °C, 1 hr, and 5.3 respectively. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used to adjust the pH of the hydrolysate to neutral (6.7). The primary component of the single-cell protein was ammonia (NH3), which was quantified using Kjeldahl's technique of analysis, while the bioethanol produced was assessed using the colorimetric and colored reaction method using a spectrophotometer. Sugarcane bagasse showed the highest amount of bioethanol (36.57 %) while Rice husks and Cassava peels showed 30.97 % and 29.31 % respectively. The greatest bioethanol production (47.85 %) was achieved by combining feedstock, cassava, and sugar cane feedstocks. The percentage of single cell protein generated from individual feedstock was the highest using sugarcane bagasse (29.4 %) while a sugarcane bagasse and cassava peels combination gave the highest concentration for single cell protein (43.6 %). The study has demonstrated efficient bioethanol and single cell protein (SCP) co-production from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae using sugarcane bagasse, cassava peels, and rice husk as feedstock.