The Production and Optimization of Bioethanol from Oil Palm Fronds: A Source of Renewable Energy

Abstract

Environmental issues and the desire to be less dependent on fossil fuel have intensified research efforts towards the production of biofuels since they are a safe and clean alternatives to fossil fuels. However, the cost of carbohydrate raw materials has become a limiting factor for large-scale production, hence the need to source for low cost feedstock. This study analyzed the processes and optimization involved in the production of bioethanol from oil palm fronds from Okada, Edo State, Nigeria, as an alternative source of energy. In this study, solid-state fermentation was carried out for the production of fermentable sugars from oil palm fronds inoculated with local isolate Aspergillus niger, the results from this analysis show that the pretreatment of oil palm frond substrate using Aspergillus niger was effective, The process was effectively optimized within the confines of the following parameters; temperature X3 (36-42oC), pH, X2 (5.1-5.7), inoculum, X4(4-22) and fermentation time X1 (0-36hr), an optimum Ethanol yield Y, of 110% was obtained.