Abstract:
The potentials of Saw dust, Rice husk and Groundnut shells were investigated for
bioethanol production. The substrates were pretreated using 2
%
, 4
%
, 6
%
and 8%
solution of dilute H
2
SO
4
and HCl. The pretreated substrates were thermally treated at
105
0
C
in order to detoxify them
. The pretreated substrates obtained using different
concentrations of acids were fermented using
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(Yeast). The
results show that Rice husk
treated with 4% H
2
SO
4
(2.689%dryweight) has the highest
result followed by the same sample treated with 2% H
2
SO
4
(2.423%drywieght) then
followed by the Saw dust treated with 8% H
2
SO
4
(1.802%dryweight) in which the least
result is observed with groundnut s
hells treated with 8% H
2
SO
4
(0.862%dryweight). All
these were observed to be significantly different as calculated and checked between
individuals differences at 0.5% confidence limit using ANOVA. Also from the results,
it is clear that the samples treated
with sulphuric acid treatments were better at reserving
the actual
sugar (glucose) content. While
samples treated with HCl has their sugar
content reduced; as this shows the effect of thermal treatment and detoxification
processes involved. Conclusively,
individual
substrates treated are said to be in different
acid measures. Thus, saw dust is optimum at 8% H
2
SO
4
and 6%
HCl while rice husk
shows its optimum progress at 6% in both H
2
SO
4
and HCl. and ground nut shells are
good at 4% H
2
SO
4
and 6% HCl acid treatments.
