Bioethanol production from agroindustrial by-products: using Trametes versicolor in simple processes of saccharification and fermentation

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: To quantify the production of total and reducing sugars, as well as bioethanol from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse pretreatments based on Trametes versicolor and solutions of 20%(P/V) NaOH.

Design/methodology/approach: A 2^K experimental design was used to determine the effects of the inoculum volume added to wild samples of sugarcane bagasse (Factor A; 8 and 10 mL), incubation time (Factor B; 18 and 24 days), and the ratio mass of bagasse/volume of solution 20%(P/V) NaOH (Factor C; 5 and 20%(P/V)), in the reducing and total sugars production by a simple saccharification. ANOVA analysis was used to assess the significance of these factors. Bioethanol production was accomplished via simple fermentation using a commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Results: The highest yields of reducing and total sugars were determined when 10 mL of the inoculum solution and an incubation time of 18 days were used during the biological pretreatments. ANOVA analysis suggests that these factors influence the release of sugars, while Factor C was irrelevant. Bioethanol production registered concentrations up to 7.3 mg/mL for every 5 g of wild sugarcane bagasse.

Limitations/implications: This work is focused on how the treatments using Trametes versicolor and NaOH influence on sugar liberation. Optimizing bioethanol production should be considered in a later study.

Findings/conclusions: Our results have implications in the use of traditional pretreatments for bioethanol production from agro-industrial waste.