Acid Hydrolysis of Cassava Peel Waste for Ethanol Production

Abstract

Alternative substrates for ethanol production other than food crops will definitely lead to enhancement of farmer’s income and lead to food security. Cassava peel waste (CPW) rich in starch content was utilized in ethanol production. The cassava peel was collected from cassava tuber processors, milled (0.027mm) hydrolysed with 20% H2SO4 prior to fermentation with 5% baker’s yeast for 3 – 5 days. The fermented broth was distilled using distillation apparatus. Chemical properties of the distillate identified hydroxyl ion as its functional group while physical characterization of the distillate showed ethanol yield to be 33.74g/cm3. The odour compares favourably with absolute and industrial ethanol respectively.