COMPARATIVE AND PRODUCTION OF BIOETHANOL FROM SUGARCANE BAGASSE AND RICE HUSK
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The rising global energy demand, coupled with the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and environmental concerns, has intensified the search for renewable alternatives such as bioethanol. This study investigated the production and comparative yield of bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse and rice husk using Saccharomyces cerevisiaeas yeast for the fermentation. The agro-residues were collected, dried, powdered, and pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis. Hydrolysates were fermented for five days at 35°C, followed by distillation and characterization of the bioethanol produced. Results revealed that sugarcane bagasse yielded higher reducing sugar concentration (0.58 mg/mL) compared to rice husk (0.41 mg/mL). Ethanol concentration was also greater in sugarcane bagasse (0.75%) than rice husk (0.41%), with total ethanol production of 74.96 g and 71.01 g, respectively. The higher performance of sugarcane bagasse is attributed to its cellulose-rich and lower lignin composition. These findings indicate that both residues are viable feedstocks for bioethanol production, with sugarcane bagasse showing superior efficiency. Optimization of pretreatment and fermentation processes is recommended to enhance yields, particularly for rice husk, thereby promoting sustainable biofuel alternatives from agricultural wastes
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