Production of Bioethanol from Spontaneous Fermentation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME).

Abstract

The feasibility of bioethanol production from spontaneous fermentation of palm oil mill effluent was carried out. Cooled POME (1.5L) was allowed to ferment spontaneously for 21 days for analysis of microbial quality, free fatty acid, lipase activity and ethanol contents. Effect of pH and supplementation on ethanol and other parameters were also determined every 3 days for 21 days. Ethanol content increased as the concentration of glucose increased and highest ethanol content (0.9%) was recorded at 25g/L and 30g/L of glucose in POME. Sugar cane bagasse supplementation had highest ethanol content (0.9%) at 20g/L and 30g/L thereafter decreased as its supplementation increased. Corn steep liquor supplementation did not have any effect on ethanol production from POME. Fermented POME supplemented with corn steep liquor had the highest lipase activity (0.00756μg/ml/day) and free fatty acid (2.561%) at 150ml/L. POME supplemented with 30g/L glucose and 30g/L sugar cane bagasse had the highest record of ethanol content (2.3%) at pH of 8.5 with highest free fatty acid (5.029%) at pH 6.5 on the 12th day of fermentation and highest lipase activity (0.03200μg/ml/day) was recorded at pH 6.5 on the 3rd day of fermentation. A relative high bioethanol can be produced by spontaneously fermenting POME with addition of 30g/L of glucose and 30g/L of sugar cane bagasse for 12 days at pH of 8.5.