Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Bioethanol Production from Neem Tree Leaves (AzadirachtaIindica)

Abstract

Bio-ethanol was produced from Neems tree leaves (Azadirachta indica) through enzymatic hydrolysis using Bacillus firmus as fermenting agent. Dried powdered of Neem tree leaves (Azadirachta indica) was hydrolyzed using 1.0cm³, 1.5cm³ and 2.0cm³ of Bacillus suspension. After that the hydrolyzed samples were fermented using 3cm³ suspension of cultured bacteria (Bacillus firmus). After that, the fermented broths formed were distillated to obtained bioethanol. Acidified K₂Cr₂O₇ was used to determine the concentration of the bioethanol produced. In which the absorbance of the bioethanol obtained using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer was extrapolated with the series concentration prepared with standard glucose solution. The FTIR Spectroscopy analysis of bio-ethanol produced confirms the presence of alcohol functional group present in the sample. The percentage yield of the bioethanol from the leaves using 1.0cm³, 1.5cm³ and 2.0cm³ of Bacillus suspension were 1.42%, 1.85%, and 1.72% yield respectively. The result showed that the Neem tree leaves that are from lignocelluloses materials can produce some appreciable percentage of bio-ethanol. Among the samples 1.5cm³of Bacillus suspension has shown the highest yield of 1.85%.