Production of Bio-Ethanol via Hydrolysis and Fermentation Using Cassava Peel and Used Newspaper as Raw Materials

Abstract

Cassava peel and used newspaper are example of daily solid wastes that continue to increase in Indonesia from year to year. Most of people in Indonesia have not utilized cassava (Manihot Esculenta L.) peel and used newspaper properly, hence they only become untreated wastes. Cassava peel highly contains carbohydrate and starch which is about 44 - 59%, while newsprint contains quite a lot of cellulose which is 61%, so that both wastes have the potential to make bio-ethanol as a one of potential renewable energy source. The focus of this study is to produce bio-ethanol from these two waste materials. There were several stages to produce bio-ethanol, which are hydrolysis with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl), and fermentation with yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae), and separation of the bio-ethanol by distillation. The content of bio-ethanol produced was analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC). The bio-ethanol was produced under different variables, which are: amount of yeast (8 g and 10 g), fermentation time (3, 7, and 10 days), and ratio of volume of solution (mL) cassava peel waste : used newspaper (i.e. 80:20; 60:40; 50:50; 40:60). The GC analysis results showed that the bio-ethanol contents were approximately 0%, 6.194%, 8.421% and 8.887% for ratio volume of solution (mL) cassava peel waste : used newspaper of 80:20; 60:40; 50:50; 40:60, respectively. Whereas, the bio-ethanol contents for 3, 7, and 10 days of fermentation time were 6.690%, 8.765%, and 9.472%, respectively. In this study, the highest bio-ethanol content produced (i.e. 9.472%) was in the following variables: amount of yeast 10 g, 10 days fermentation time, ratio volume of solution (mL) cassava peel waste : used newspaper of 50:50.