Bioethanol production through enzymatic saccharification and fermentation of mechanically milled empty palm bunch

Shortage in supply for petroleum-based liquid fuel have promote researches in the area of alternative energy such as blended fuel containing various amount of bio-ethanol derived from waste lignocellulosic biomass. This paper aims to optimize the enzymatic saccharification by varying reaction temperature, enzyme loading and time required to hydrolyzed palm empty fruit bunch (P-EFB). The best saccharification conditions were used to generate reduced sugar, consisting of glucose, fructose which was then passed through the fermentation process to produce bio-ethanol. Optimal saccharification of P-EFB was found to be conducted at temperature of 45 degrees C, enzyme loading of 20 FPU/g and reaction time of 12 hours. The optimum concentration of reduced sugar produced in the pre-hydrolyzed slurry was 11.4 g/L. Fermentation of pre-hydrolyzed slurry in 5 g/L yeast solution was conducted at 40 degrees C and fermenting time of 24 hours. Product from fermentation contained 29.5 g/L bioethanol or bio-ethanol yield of 68.7 %.