Production of bio-ethanol from three varieties of dates

In this work, production of bio-ethanol from three varieties of dates (Kunta, Eguoua and Bouhatem) produced in the region of Gabes-Tunisa was studied. A comparison between soxhlet and solvent extraction of a juice obtained from the dates was made. The alcoholic fermentation of this juice by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated under sugar concentration near 200 g L−1 at 30 °C and natural pH. The obtained results showed that all the tested varieties allowed producing ethanol with a concentration around 25% (V/V). Moreover the yeast used in the fermentation process is capable of producing alcohol even at a pH of 3.8.

► Extraction of sugar from dates by direct and soxhlet extraction.
► The time taken and the amount of energy consumed by the soxlhet technique are much larger than the direct extraction.
► The different varieties (Kunta, Eguoua and Bouhatem) give bio-ethanol.
► The Saccharomyces cerevisiae can produce alcohol from date juice.
► There is an optimal ratio between the concentration of microorganisms and the sugar concentration.