초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Poor or non-utilisation of the xylose fractions of lignocellulosic biomass is a serious impediment to the achievement of energy security through lignocellulosic ethanol. In this work, the potential of sustainable ethanol production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) by co-fermentation of its glucose and xylose components was assessed. Simultaneous co-saccharification and co-fermentation (SScF) was compared with three other fermentation techniques to evaluate bioconversion of mild-alkaline-treated OPEFB for efficient bioethanol production. Hydrolysis was done by the synergistic actions of commercial cellulase (50 FPU/gds) supplemented with on-site crude hemicellulase at unit ratio of 1 FPU: 5 U. After pre-treatment, 79.0% and 79.3% respectively of total glucan and xylan were recovered while 91.9% and 90.6% of the respective polymers were hydrolyzed to fermentable sugars. At 3.4% (w/v) substrate loading, 89.5% theoretical ethanol yield, equivalent of 0.33 g/g raw OPEFB (418.9 L/tonne) was achieved by using SScF. This was higher than 84.9% (0.31 g/g = 397.6 L/tonne raw OPEFB) achieved by separate co-hydrolysis and co-fermentation (SHcF) which is the closest among other fermentation techniques compared. By our knowledge, the yield achieved by the co-fermentation techniques used in this study has not been reported in any previous research which produced ethanol from OPEFB.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Co-fermentation of glucose and xylose of a mild-alkali-treated EFB was investigated. </LI> <LI> Above 79% of each OPEFB sugar components were preserved after mild alkali treatment. </LI> <LI> Ethanol yields due to co-fermentations were higher than separate fermentations. </LI> <LI> 0.33 g ethanol per gram of dry raw OPEFB was obtained due to co-fermentation. </LI> <LI> 416.4 L ethanol/tonne OPEFB achieved using SScF has not been reported in any study. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>Simultaneous co-hydrolysis and co-fermentation (SScF) was employed in this study to enhance ethanol yield of 0.33 g/g dried OPEFB (418.9 L/per tonne) of untreated OPEFB via a mild alkaline treatment.</P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>