Production and Optimization of Bioethanol from Watermelon Rind using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Abstract

Bio-fuels generation from waste forms is a good solution towards the waste management and generation of energy. The utilization of fruit rinds is preferable to all the costly starchy food. Watermelon rind was used to produced the bioethanol, they were dried, ground and pretreated then saccharification was carried out by enzymatic hydrolysis by Aspergillus Niger followed immediately by fermentation by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The amount of ethanol produced after fermentation was measured by Alcohol-Meter. The factors affecting fermentation process were varied, 15 runs was experimental design matrix designed by Design Expert software by RSM (Response Surface Method).The optimization of the variables was done by ANOVA (Analysis of Variance).The optimal value was obtained at 30 OC, 48 hours and 2 g/ml of temperature, time and substrate concentration respectively at 20.3% in volume ratio. From the result, the ethanol yields achieved are too low for marketing and organisms are not robust enough for applications in industries in both cases, but as science is going on, to produce sustainable fuels in future, engineering microorganisms could help to achieved it.