Process alternatives for bioethanol production from mango stem bark residues.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Agricultural Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Mango stem bark is an abundant lignocellulosic biomass with potential for bioethanol production.
• Agroindustrial waste valorization is crucial for sustainable practices and economic development.
• Pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis are key steps in converting biomass to fermentable sugars.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate three bioethanol production strategies from pretreated mango stem bark after maceration (MSBAM).
• To compare separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), and pre-saccharification followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PSSF).
• To identify the optimal biorefinery process for maximizing ethanol yield and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of SHF, SSF, and PSSF process alternatives for bioethanol production.
• Optimization of parameters including solids loading, Tween 20 addition, and temperature.
• Analysis of ethanol concentration, yield, and productivity for each process.

Main Results:

• The highest yields achieved were 58.8% for SHF, 81.6% for SSF, and 84.5% for PSSF.
• No significant differences in ethanol concentration were observed between SSF and PSSF.
• SSF demonstrated high efficiency by combining saccharification and fermentation in a single vessel.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) is recommended as the most effective process configuration for bioethanol production from MSBAM.
• The SSF process offers a practical and efficient biorefinery component for the mango agroindustry.
• Further optimization of SSF could enhance bioethanol yields from lignocellulosic materials.