Abstract:
Fig (Ficas Carica) fruit is one of the most important and unindustrialized source of bio-ethanol energy. This study was aimed at optimization of bio-ethanol production process
through hydrolysis and fermentation of this fruit. With three different hydrolysis methods
were used to obtain reduced sugar and fermentation by S. Cerevisiae to bio-ethanol yield
was performed. The experimental design for investigation of hydrolyses and fermentation
parameters effects on responses and their optimization based upon 3-level factorial (3
2
)
and central composite design (3
3
) under response surface method was utilized
respectively. The models, main and interaction effects on yields were established as
statistically significant (p-value<0.05) based on analysis of variance (ANOVA), fit
statistics and diagnostic test analyzed. The hydrolyses (alkali, acid, and hot water)
process parameters required to attain reduced sugar (29.47, 31.64, and 39.80%w/w) in
minimum desirable deviation of 1.00, 0.912, and 1.00 were found through optimization to
be equal to (0.5%m/v NaOH and 45min), (0.05%v/v H
2SO
4
and 45min) and (101.99
o
C
and 44.98min) respectively. Moreover, fermentation process parameters required to
achieve bio-ethanol 8.94GL in minimum desirable deviation of 0.885 through
optimization to be equal to 4.75pH, 50hr, and 30.8
o
C. Furthermore, demonstration of
variation of processing variables while other parameters remained constant was
performed. The results showed that, implementing optimized bio-ethanol production
from Ficus Carica fruit which is not food-dependent, simple degradable, locally
available, cheap, and environmentally friend.
Key words: Bio-ethanol, Fermentation, Ficus Carica fruit, Hydrolysis, Interaction effect,
Optimization, Reduced sugar content, S. Cervisiae