Bioethanol production from dilute acid hydrolysis of cassava peels, sugar beet pulp, and green macroalgae (Ulva lactuca)

Abstract

This study presents the characterization and application of different pretreatment possibilities to optimize simple carbohydrate production from representative feedstock, followed by ethanol production through optimized saccharification steps using suitable microorganisms. Total soluble carbohydrates and carbohydrate yield were evaluated using dilute acid hydrolysis of biomass and reference materials (starch and cellulose) under different conditions. To explore two-factor interactions, the Plackett-Burman design of experiments was used in the statistical screening of variables and then transformed to a full-factorial design based on the significant variables. According to the experimental findings, dilute acid hydrolysis can yield a considerable amount of soluble carbohydrates. The goodness of fit of the model was evaluated using the coefficient of determination. The optimized carbohydrate yields of the biomass were 0.76 g/g cassava peels, 0.35 g/g sugar beet pulp, and 0.36 g/g green macroalgae. Bioethanol production from optimized hydrolysis conditions using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Scheffersomyces stipitis DSM 3651, led to a maximum ethanol yield of 0.286 g/g from cassava peels and 0.033 g/g from sugar beet pulp, while using Neurospora intermedia DSM 1265 led to a maximum ethanol yield of 0.076 g/g from green macroalgae. Hence, these biomasses are considered valuable feedstock for bioethanol production with cassava peels having the highest potential.

Keywords:

• Waste biomass
• dilute acid hydrolysis
• carbohydrates
• fermentation
• bioethanol

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding provided by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigeria for this research. Special thanks are extended to the technical team members of the GEPEA laboratory, Katell Chaillou, and Eric Chevrel, at IMT Atlantique, Nantes, France, and the technical manager of the joint scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis service (SMEBM), Nicolas Stephant in IMN lab, Nantes Université for their valuable support. The authors also express their appreciation to Claire Guyon from ONIRIS, UMR 6144 GEPEA, BP 82225, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France, for her assistance in conducting the HPLC analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was disclosed by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigeria.