Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic feed stock by Ruminococcus albus in production of biofuel ethanol

Ethanol is an alternative to fossil fuel. Current ethanol production processes using crops, such as, sugarcane and corn are well-established. However, utilization of a cheaper substrate, such as, lignocellulose makes bioethanol more purposeful. Biologically mediated processes are promising for energy conversion, in particular, for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fuels. In the present study, optimized cellulosic ethanol production from bagasse and sorghum using Ruminococcus albus isolated from rumen of herbivores animals was attempted. R. albus could depolymerise cellulose and hemicellulose as well as could tolerate stress conditions (variable substrate concentration, pH, and temperature). Optimum temperature, pH and substrate concentration for hydrolyses of both bagasse and sorghum by R. albus were found to be 39 C, 8.8 and 3.5%, respectively. For the feed stock (3.5%) of bagasse and sorghum, ethanol yield of 19.8 g/L and 17.42 g/L, respectively was obtained.