Acid and enzyme hydrolysis to convert pretreated lignocellulosic materials into glucose for ethanol production

The current research investigates the use of acid and enzyme hydrolysis to produce glucose from pretreated rice straw, banana plant waste and corn cob, as a lignocellulosic materials, to be a source for ethanol production. The agricultural biomasses were first tested, then a laboratory experimental set-up was designed in order to perform the necessary conversions. The biomass materials were characterized to contain 57.46–85.28% holocellulose and 14.55–26.12% lignin. Conversion of the cellulose to glucose was achieved by pre-treatment method for the agricultural residues first applying chemical pulping and steam explosion method as well as microwave treatment then followed by two processes, namely acid hydrolysis and enzyme hydrolysis. Sulfuric acid, 5%, was used in acid hydrolysis and Trichoderma reesei cellulases in enzyme hydrolysis. These experiments demonstrated that glucose concentration differs according to the type of pre-treatment and type of hydrolysis. Conversion of the glucose to ethanol during fermentation was accomplished by the action of yeasts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ethanol production in the culture sample was monitored using gas chromatography. The results indicate that ethanol can be made from the above mentioned residues in a different yield according to the pre-treatment and the glucose produced from the hydrolysis method.