Vol9num2 Article07 PDF
Vol9num2 Article07 PDF
Vol9num2 Article07 PDF
2005)
Abstract
The possibility of producing ethanol from biomass such as maize cobs and
groundnut shells was investigated. Different concentrations of sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
were used to determine the acid concentration that could produce an optimal yield of
glucose. The results revealed that 4.5M H2SO4 produced the optimal yield of glucose
and ethanol. This acid concentration was then used for the study of temperature effects
on yield of glucose. The results indicated that glucose yield increased with temperature
within the experimental set-up. The maize cobs and groundnut shells were mixed at
various ratios and pretreated to remove all extractives. The ratio of 3:1 of maize cobs
to groundnut shells and at 4.5M acid gave a better glucose yield than those obtained
from individual biomass. The ultimate product (glucose) was hydrolyzed and 8%
ethanol was obtained within three hours.
Keywords: Alcohol, glucose, biomass, hydrolysis, fermentation.
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AU J.T. 9(2): 106-110 (Oct. 2005)
During 1974, Nigeria was spending N 2 were added to 50ml of the 2 M solution of
million annually on spirits and alcohol H2SO4, respectively under room temperature in
(Madrella, et al. 1981). This expenditure a stirred 250ml conical flask which serve as a
represents a big market for a country like reactor. This reaction was allowed to proceed
Nigeria, with a population of over 120 million for 2.5 hrs. Some quantities of the hydrolyzed
people. A crude estimate of the total market for sample at an interval of 30 min was collected
alcoholic beverages in Nigeria is about and filtered, the resulting filtrates analyzed for
2,500,500 L/year. Therefore, provision must the glucose using a refractometer (Abbe 60).
be made to balance the shortfall to complement The entire procedure was repeated for
the imported, hence the need for this work. 3M, 4M, 4.5M and 5M of H2SO4 and the
Neverthless, the production of chemical various acid concentrations recorded. Using the
feedstock from biomass making use of locally best concentration of H2SO4 (4.5M), a mixture
sourced material that is very cheap and within of maize cobs and groundnut shells in the ratio
reach can be accomplished (Eweke, et al. of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3 and 3:1 were leached and
1979). In this work, agricultural wastes, which the hydrolyzed samples were filtered. The
are readily available, were used for ethanol resulting filtrate was analyzed for glucose and
production. the best ratio determined.
Using the best maize cobs to groundnut
Methodology shells of 3:1, the effect of temperature on its
hydrolysis was investigated using a
Collection and Processing of Substrate Used thermostated water bath (Gallenkamp,
England) at 40o, 50o, 60o, 70o and 80oC 4.5M
Maize cobs and groundnut shells were H2SO4 was used for the hydrolysis, and 10g of
collected in polythene bags from the farm of the mixture were pretreated by a modified
Government Technical School, Kontagora, procedure described by Layokun (1981). The
Niger State, Nigeria and transported to the reaction was allowed to proceed for 2.5 at
laboratory. A serrated disc grinder was used to constant temperature.
reduce the maize cobs and groundnut shells The resulting hydrolyzed sample was
into very small sizes of particle. These particles filtered leaving a filtrate with high percentage
were then sieved to obtain average particle of glucose and this acted as the substrate. The
sizes of 300m in diameter. The cellulose was substrate in the fermentation medium was
isolated by the procedure described by inoculated with S. cerevisiae as the started
Layokun (1981). To 10g of each sample of the culture and the time noted. The conical flask,
agricultural waste was added 20ml of diethyl which has been sterilized, was tightly sealed
ether in a 250ml Erlenmeyer flask in order to with glass stopper to avoid air entering the
remove extractives and the residue left was reactor medium. The entire process was
washed with distilled water. 20ml of 14M allowed to remain for three hours. Every 30
H2SO4 was added to the residue to isolate minutes, a sample was withdrawn and both
lignin. The hemicelluloses and cellulose were glucose and the ethanol concentration were
dissolved leaving lignin as a hard precipitate. determined using a refractometer.
This modified procedure described by Layokun In order to obtain a large quantity of pure
(1981) was used to isolate the sample of maize ethanol, the quantity of maize cobs and
cobs and groundnut shells individually. This groundnut shells were increased using the same
procedure was repeated for mixture of both ratio (3:1). The entire hydrolysis process was
samples in the ratio 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 3:1 in carried out to produce large quantity of
order to obtain best mixture that could produce glucose, which was fermented simultaneously.
high quality of ethanol. After the fermentation process, alcohol
To determine the effect of different acid was recovered using a simple batch distillation
concentrations on the hydrolysis 2M solution method. Confirmatory tests were carried out to
of concentrated H2SO4 was prepared and 10g of ascertain that the distillate was actually
the leached maize cobs and groundnut shells ethanol.
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AU J.T. 9(2): 106-110 (Oct. 2005)
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AU J.T. 9(2): 106-110 (Oct. 2005)
At 80OC, glucose yield for both biomass glucose is due to the fact that, during
was at the peak and ranged 0 - 0.98g/cm3 for fermentation the yeast (S. ceresiae) utilized the
maize cobs and 0 - 0.63g/cm3 for groundnut glucose as a source of carbon and energy,
shells. This indicates that, at higher whereas ethanol is produced as a result (Nester,
temperatures and at moderate acid et al. 1995). A test was carried out using
concentrations, the yield of glucose increases. iodoform and dichromate solution confirmed
Consequently, acid hydrolysis of a mixture of that the distillate was ethanol.
maize cobs and groundnut shells at different
ratios using 4.5 M H2SO4 at ambient Table 6. Glucose yield for hydrolysis for
temperature shows an increase in glucose yield mixture of maize cobs and groundnut
as shown in Table 5. shells in ratio 3:1 using 4.5M H2SO4 at
different temperatures
Table 5. Glucose yield for acid hydrolysis for
mixture of maize cobs and groundnut shells Time Glucose yield (g/cm3)
using 4.5M H2SO4 at ambient temperature (min)
40oC 50oC 60oC 70oC 80oC
0 0 0 0 0 0
Time (min) Glucose yield (g/cm3)
6 0.03 0.10 0.25 0.28 0.31
1:1 1:2 2:1 1:3 3:1 12 0.28 0.40 0.58 0.62 0.65
0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0.56 0.62 0.68 0.76 0.94
6 0.05 0.04 0.09 0.01 0.12 30 0.83 0.86 0.90 0.93 1.07
12 0.13 0.10 0.17 0.04 0.22 60 0.85 0.89 0.92 0.95 1.25
18 0.23 0.19 0.33 0.06 0.36 90 0.86 0.90 0.95 0.98 1.29
30 0.36 0.25 0.43 0.14 0.51 120 0.88 0.92 0.96 1.00 1.43
60 0.54 0.39 0.63 0.23 0.73 150 0.90 0.93 0.97 1.01 1.53
90 0.65 0.49 0.75 0.31 0.86
120 0.71 0.55 0.83 0.35 0.89 Table 7. Percentage of ethanol produced and
150 0.75 0.58 0.86 0.36 0.94 glucose concentration
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