Modeling and optimization of alkaline pretreatment conditions for the production of bioethanol from giant reed (Arundo donax L.) biomass using response surface methodology (RSM)

In this study, the giant reed (Arundo donax L.) was used as a substrate for bioethanol production. To study and optimize the effect of bioethanol production parameters, including sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration (3-9, w/w%), temperature (60-180 degrees C), and pretreatment duration (30-120 min), on bioethanol concentration, and theoretical bioethanol yield, response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used. Alkaline pretreatment with NaOH was done on the substrate and all the samples were subjected to an enzymatic degradation experiment under conditions of loading 30 FPU cellulase/g dry biomass and then converted to bioethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. The results showed significant effects of the variables on bioethanol production, except for the effects of temperature on theoretical bioethanol yield. The optimal conditions for producing bioethanol under alkaline pretreatment conditions are a NaOH concentration of 3.0%, a temperature of 60 degrees C, and a pretreatment duration of 30 min which identified the optimal conditions of bioethanol concentration (3.19 g/L), and theoretical bioethanol yield (25.62%). These results contribute to supporting the potential of giant reed biomass as a suitable raw material for bioethanol production.