Abstract
This study investigated the potential of pito mash (waste from sorghum brewing) as alternative and cost-effective feedstock for bioethanol production by means of fermentation using Zymomonas mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from freshly tapped palm wine. Fermentation parameters such as pH, temperature and incubation period were studied. The fermentation microbes, Z. mobilis and S. cerevisiae were identified using APITM test kit and morphological characteristics, respectively. Analysis of reducing sugar residue was performed using dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method, while analysis of ethanol content was performed using gas chromatography. Pito mash recorded total starch content of 6.69%, reducing sugar content of 11.1 mg ml-1 and cellulose content of 0.41 mg g-1. Saccharification by malting increased reducing sugar content by 77.9% (19.75 mg ml-1). The optimum fermentation conditions (pH, temperature and incubation period) for Z. mobilis and S. cerevisiae were 5.5, 35°C, 3 days and 6.0, 30°C, 4 day, respectively. The maximum ethanol yield of 3.03 g l-1 and efficiency of 62% were obtained for S. cerevisiae while yield of 3.63 g l-1 and efficiency of 74.2% were obtained for Z. mobilis. Z. mobilis conclusively may be better organism for ethanol production from pito mash. Key words: Pito mash, agro-industrial wastes, Zymomonas mobilis, ethanol, reducing sugars.
Highlights
Energy consumption has increased steadily over the last century as the world’s population increases, and more and more countries become industrialized
This study investigated the potential of pito mash as alternative and cost-effective feedstock for bioethanol production by means of fermentation using Zymomonas mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from freshly tapped palm wine
The present study focuses on the potential use of pito mash as a substrate for both Z. mobilis and S. cerevisiae for bioethanol production under optimum fermentation conditions such as temperature, pH and incubation periods
Summary
Energy consumption has increased steadily over the last century as the world’s population increases, and more and more countries become industrialized. The traditional source of fuel, fossil fuel is continuously being depleted irrespective of the new geographical discoveries. There have been concerns about the pollution and various health risks associated with the use of petroleum as fuel. The importance of alternative energy source has become even more necessary due to the continuous depletion of the limited fossil fuel stock and for safe and better environment (Chandel et al, 2007). The interest in biomass as the alternative source.
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