Use of Waste Materials from Plant Origins (Yam) as a Major Raw Material for Bio-Ethanol Production—A Practical Approach

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of waste materials from yam as a viable alternative and cheaper source of raw material for bio-ethanol production. In a world where the population continues to expand rapidly and high levels of poverty, there may be a conflict in our application of food quality raw materials. Use of human grade raw materials for bio-ethanol production can limit these resources. Rotten yam will not compete as a human food source. Their conversion into bio-ethanol could provide a more appropriate alternative. Good and rotten parts of yam tuber produced alcohol yields of 533 and 528 litres of alcohol per tonne (LA/t) on a dry weight basis (dwb). Yam with varying degrees of rot “slight,” “medium” and “excessive” gave alcohol yields of 518 LA/t, 512 LA/t and 478 LA/t (dwb) respectively. Yam peel and extremely rotten yam tuber produced alcohol at 240 LA/t and 300 LA/t respectively. Benefit to be gained from this study is that good quality yam flour will be available as food for humans, while use of rotten yam for bio-ethanol production will provide a cleaner environment by eliminating their dumping into the environment thereby reducing environmental pollution and health hazards associated with their decay.