BIOMASS AND ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM WOOD PARTICLES AND SAWDUST USING TRICHODERMA VIRIDE AND SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE FROM PALM WINE

ABSTRACT

Fermentation of sugar derived from enzymatic hydrolysis of inexpensive wood particles and sawdust (waste) is an economical and efficient method for bioethanol production. Sawdust and wood particles contains high amount of cellulose which needs to be broken down to simple sugar (glucose) that can be fermented to produce ethanol. Trichoderma viride with high enzymatic (cellulase) activity was used to hydrolyse the mechanically processed wood particles and sawdust and allowed to hydrolyse for 5 to 7 days after which the presence of reducing sugar was determined using Fehling's and Anthrone method. The determined sugar content, 6.87% was optimized to 23.90% by adding sugar. After optimization, the hydrolysate was inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm wine and left to ferment for 7 days. During the fermentation, changes in temperature, pH, titratable acidity, sugar content, specific gravity, biomass and ethanol yield were monitored. The temperature fluctuated between 29⁰C and 30⁰C with pH decreasing from 5.8 to 4.1 generating a biomass yield of 1.98g/L. The sugar content reduced from 23.90% to 3.83% and 10.16% ethanol was obtained at the end of the fermentation. The results proved that wood particles and sawdust are potential substrates for production of ethanol. Extending the days of fermentation could lead to a higher ethanol yield.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES

Table                 Title                                                           Page

1: Quality tests on the Trichodermahydrolyzed wood-dust liquor prior to optimization               20  

2: Changes in physiochemical characteristics of the fermenting hydrolysate by palm wine yeast         21

3: Quality characteristics of ethanol                                                                            29

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure                          Title                                                      Page

1:   Schematic Diagram of traditional biomass conversion to ethanol                                        7

2:   pH variations during fermentation of the hydrolysate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae                   22

3:   Changes in temperature during fermentation of the hydrolysate with

       Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                                                              23

4:   Changes in percentage titratable acidity during fermentation of hydrolysate with

       Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                                                              24

5:   Changes in percentage sugar content during fermentation of the hydrolysate with

       Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                                                              25

6:   Changes in specific gravity (g/cm²) during fermentation of the hydrolysate with

       Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                                                              26

7:   Biomass yield(g/L) during fermentation of the hydrolysate with

       Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                                                                  27

8: Quantity of alcohol production during fermentation of the hydrolyzed wood dust with

     Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                    28

CHAPTER ONE

            1.1           INTRODUCTION

Over the last few decades, the emission of gas as a result of combustion of fossil fuel led to the desire and need for an alternative or fuel additive. This led to the increasing demand for ethanol. Combustion of petroleum-based fuels increases net emission of carbondioxide, different toxic and volatile compounds that are responsible for health hazards and pollutions such as benzene toluene and Xylenes (Tillman and San Diego, 2001). Generally, biofuel offer many benefits that include sustainability, reduction of green house gas emissions, engine compression ratio and also reduce the environmental pollution (Reijnders, 2006).

Ethanol is an important member of a classof organic compound with a general name “alcohols”. The use of ethanol by humans dates back to prehistoric times when it was  largely consumed as a beverage. The benefits derivable from ethanol have continued to multiply, which includes solvent, germicide, as antifreeze, fuel and versatile intermediate for other organic chemicals. When compared to gasoline, higher octane number and decreased  rate of evaporation made it an excellent fuel for future advanced flexi-fuel hybrid vehicles (Chum and Overend, 2001; Kim and Dave, 2005).

            In ethanol production, two (2) categories of  substrate has been used. This includes crops and grain like corn, wheat, sugarcane, soybeans etc, and waste biomass such as straw corn, stover and waste wood which is more inexpensive. Production of ethanol from renewable sources of lignocellulosic biomass can improve energy security, decrease urban air pollution and reduce accumulaton of carbondioxide in the atmosphere (Lynd et al., 1991). The largest biomass energy source to date is wood, e.g forest residues (such as dead trees), yard chippings, woodchips and even municipal solid waste. Fermentation of sugars derived from inexpensive wood sawdust is an economical and efficient method for bioethanol production.

            The sawdust containing cellulose is the most abundant form of organic carbon synthesized by plants. Cellulosic materials are renewable natural biological resources that can be used  for the production of biofuels (Zhang et al., 2009). Various industries utilize huge volumes of cellulosic waste which provide a low-cost and sustainable resource for production of ethanol (Das and Singh, 2004).

            Bioethanol production through microbial fermentation  provides an economically competitive source of energy (Mcaloon et al., 2000; Yasuyuki et al.,2011). Microorganisms are required to produce ethanol from lignocellulosic hydrolysates with a high yield from all sugars present using an economically feasible process. Different fermentation organisms among bacteria, yeast and fungi (Natural, as well as recombinant) have been reviewed (Park et al., 2010; Talebnia et al.,  2010) with emphasis on their performance over lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Yeast cells are especially attractive for cellulosic ethanol process because they have been used in biotechnology for hundreds of years, they are tolerant to high ethanol and inhibitor concentrations.

1.2    AIM AND OBJECTIVES

      The aim of this research work was to convert wood particles and sawdust (waste) into useful products (biomass and ethanol) using Trichoderma viride and palm wine yeast.

Objectives:

1.     To saccharify wood particles and sawdust to simple sugars using Trichoderma viride.

2.     To produce ethanol and generate biomass using Saccharomyces cerevisiae from palm wine.

Buyers has the right to create dispute within seven (7) days of purchase for 100% refund request when you experience issue with the file received. 

Dispute can only be created when you receive a corrupt file, a wrong file or irregularities in the table of contents and content of the file you received. 

ProjectShelve.com shall either provide the appropriate file within 48hrs or send refund excluding your bank transaction charges. Term and Conditions are applied.

Buyers are expected to confirm that the material you are paying for is available on our website ProjectShelve.com and you have selected the right material, you have also gone through the preliminary pages and it interests you before payment. DO NOT MAKE BANK PAYMENT IF YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ON THE WEBSITE.

In case of payment for a material not available on ProjectShelve.com, the management of ProjectShelve.com has the right to keep your money until you send a topic that is available on our website within 48 hours.

You cannot change topic after receiving material of the topic you ordered and paid for.