Bioethanol Production from Alkali Steam Explosion of Oil Palm of Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber

Bioethanol is the most promising biofuels and can be generated from lignocellulosic biomasses. The study of bioethanol production from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) pretreated by alkali steam explosion was carried out employing separate enzymatic hydrolysis (SHF) and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) approaches. Alkaline extraction after steam explosion pretreatment of OPEFB led to the partial removal of lignin, hemicellulose and other degradation products from fiber surface. The pretreatment process is of great importance to ethanol yield. In the present study, the pretreatment was processed using a steam explosion reactor at 150°C, 4 bars for 30 minute with alkaline concentrations of NaOH 10% (kg/L). After pretreatment, the OPEFB substrates 10% and 15% (w/v) was saccharification using 30 FPU of Ctec2 and Htec2 enzyme and fermentation using yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 72 hours. The glucose obtained after 72 hours was 137.80 g/L (subtrate 15%) and 97.90 g/L (subtrate 10%). Bioethanol production in SSF mode faster and slightly more efficient process than SHF.