Bioethanol Production from Two Varieties (Saccharum Officinarum and Saccharum Barberi) Of Sugarcane Peels

Abstract

Provision of an alternative clean source of fuel with less cost, will reduce fossil fuel demand. Pollution is the major environmental problem. Air pollution is among the three types of pollution where harmful substances such as CO₂ and CO are introduced to the environment and cause harm to humans and animals. Fossil fuel combustion from automobiles and industries causes this type of pollution. There is need to replace another source of fuel with renewable feedstock such as the peels of Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum barberi which are lignocellulose materials to produce bioethanol that has a lower impact on air pollution and the Ozone layer which causes Green-House effect than fossil fuels. Dilute H₂SO₄ at different concentrations of 1M,2M,3M,4M and 5M were replicated into three different parts respectively as hydrolysing solution. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as fermentation enzymes. Different pH values of 5, 6 and 7 was used for fermentation periods of 5, 6 and 7 days, respectively. The Bioethanol was distilled by the use of fractional distillation. Hydrolysed samples of 3M for 6^th day of both Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum barberi produced the best yields of bioethanol at the pH of 5 and 5M hydrolysed samples of both Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum barberi produced the least bioethanol for all pH values and fermentation days. The Bioethanol produced was blended with kerosene fuel to create EK10 and EK20 kerosene-bioethanol blends for use as a fuel source in a kerosene lamp. EK10 blend took 126 hours to burn in a rotary kerosene lamp, while EK20 blend took 167 hours to burn-off in the same kerosene lamp. Hydrolysed H₂SO₄ of 3M, pH 5 and fermentation period of 6 days for both Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum barberi shows the best sample to produce bioethanol. The bioethanol kerosene blend EK10 and E20 was concluded to show long period of burning with clean soot in a rotary kerosene lamp, therefore the bioethanol kerosene blends can be used as substitutes for kerosene fuel.