Abstract:
The utilization of lignocellulosic waste materials for bioethanol production has gained
significant attention as a sustainable and renewable energy source. In this study,
microwave-assisted natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) pretreatment using alkaline
hydrolysis was employed to enhance the conversion of Enset waste into bioethanol. The
aim was to investigate the effectiveness of this eco-friendly and efficient pretreatment
method in improving the alkaline hydrolysis. Enset waste was subjected to microwave
irradiation in the presence of NADES. The pretreated Enset waste was hydrolyzed using
sodium hydroxide at different hydrolysis conditions [concentration of NaOH (15-21 %),
temperature (80-120
o
C), and time (40-60 min.)] to convert the released sugars into
fermentable sugars. total reducing sugars was measured using UV-Vis
Spectrophotometer, The result confirmed that the maximum reducing sugar yield (51.28
mg/ml) achieved at 18 % NaOH, temperature of 100˚C and 50 minutes of hydrolysis
time. Which is 42.3 mg/ml higher compared to untreated Enset waste (8.91 mg/ml). The
hydrolysate was subjected to fermentation using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae to produce
bioethanol. The results demonstrated that microwave-assisted alkaline hydrolysis using
NADES significantly improved the conversion of Enset waste into bioethanol. This study
highlights the potential of microwave-assisted alkaline hydrolysis using NADES as an
efficient pretreatment method for lignocellulosic biomass conversion. The utilization of
Enset waste, a commonly available agricultural residue, for bioethanol production can
contribute to the development of a sustainable and cost-effective bioenergy industry.
Moreover, the application of eco-friendly NADES enhances the overall process
efficiency and reduces the environmental impact associated with conventional
pretreatment methods.
Keywords: Bioethanol, Enset-waste, Hydrolysis, Natural deep eutectic solvent,
Lignocellulosic-biomass.