Determining the Viability of Watermelon Exocarp as a Feedstock for Ethanol Production (Published)
Fossil fuels are compounds of hydrocarbons comprising of coal, natural gas and oil. Over the years, their constant use as sources of energy have adversely impacted the environment and have greatly contributed to global warming which have led to the advocacy for renewable energy. Renewable energy is produced from sources that do not deplete or can be replenished within a human life time. Bio-energy is the energy derived from biological sources and types of bio-energy are bio-ethanol, biogas, and biodiesel. This research work is to produce bio-ethanol from watermelon exocarp. A total of 78.6 kg of watermelon waste was collected from tenboga market upper mission road, Benin City, Edo State. The water melon exocarp was processed and fed into the grinding machine for blending. A cloth sieve filter was used to obtain 60 litres of juice from the slurry. The juice was fed into the fermentation pot, which fermented for five days. Brewer’s yeast (Saccharosomysis Cerevisae) and amylase of 11g each were added to the feedstock to facilitate the fermentation process. pH, conductivity, sugar content, refractive index and alcoholic content were observed daily and recorded during the period of fermentation. The beer was distilled at ethanol boiling point of 790C utilizing an indigenous bio-ethanol plant. It was recorded that 15 litres of ethanol with 35% alcoholic content was obtained from 60 litres of beer at the end of the distillation process. This therefore suggests that water melon waste can be harnessed as a viable feedstock for ethanol production.
Citation: Biose, O., Imhontu, M., Akenzua, O., Ehigiamusoe, O., Atsegha, B.,Onabe, J., Angalapu Daudeigha, J., Okorie, C., Igbinomwanhia, D. Iyeke (2021) Determining the Viability of Watermelon Exocarp as a Feedstock for Ethanol Production, International Journal of Physical Sciences Research, Vol.5, No.1, pp.21-27
Keywords: Environment, Physicochemical, Water Melon, bioethanol, exocarp
Bioethanol Production from Municipal Solid Waste: Technical Overview, Progress and Challenges (Published)
Due to the rapid growth in population and industrialization coupled with the adverse side effects from usage of fossil fuels, there is a high demand for renewable fuel especially ethanol which is environmentally friendly and can be used as substitute for premium motor spirit. Conventional crops such as corn and sugarcane are unable to meet the global demand of bioethanol production due to their primary value of food and feed. Therefore sugar, starch and lignocellulosic materials from municipal solid waste stream are attractive feedstocks for bioethanol production. Agricultural wastes from municipal solid waste stream are cost effective, sustainable, addresses environmental pollution and create wealth and energy. Bioethanol production from wastes could be promising, however, the processes has several challenges and limitations such as feedstock sourcing and finance. This paper gives an overview, the technicality, challenges and the progress for bioethanol production from municipal solid waste.
Citation: Biose Osadebe, Maureen Imhontu, Oghosa Akenzua, Christopher Okorie, James Onabe, Bildad Atsegha, Jonah D. Angalapu, Bawo Kubeyinje, Rita Orerome, Wale Akingba,2Igbinoimwahia D. Iyeke (2021) Bioethanol Production from Municipal Solid Waste: Technical Overview, Progress and Challenges, International Journal of Energy and Environmental Research, Vol.9, No.3, pp., 1-9
Keywords: Energy, Environment, bioethanol, feedstock, municipal solid waste
