IJBLST 2017 Volume 9 Issue 3
International Journal of Biological Sciences and Technology (IJBLST) ISSN: 0975–8704
An Open Access Journal -- NO Fees -- NO Processing Charges -- 100% Non Profit Initiatives
Bio-ethanol yielding potentials of Melon seed peels using fungal isolates from Palm oil effluents. Orjiakor, P. I., Igborbgor, C. J. and Ogu, G.I. IJBLST (2017), 9(3):18-25
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Title:
Bio-ethanol yielding potentials of Melon seed peels using fungal isolates from Palm oil effluents
Authors & Affiliation:
Orjiakor, P. I.1, Igborbgor, C. J.2 and Ogu, G.I.3
1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
2 Department of Biology, College of Education, Abgor, Delta State, Nigeria
3 Department of Biological Sciences, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria
dbestGod@yahoo.com, lordemi2001@yahoo.com, gideonogu@novenauniversity.edu.ng
Abstract:
In this study, the feasibility of fermenting melon seed peels for bio-ethanol production was investigated under standard laboratory conditions using Aspergillus niger, Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm oil effluents. The melon seed wastes were collected from the dump sites, processed and hydrolyzed using dilute mineral acid. One hundred milliliters (100ml) portion of the sterilized hydrolysate was then fermented using the fungal isolates as axenic and mixed cultures at temperature at various temperature (25-500C and pH (4.0-5.0). Bio-ethanol production was monitored periodically from the treated and untreated substrates for a period of 10 days. The total reducing sugar contents obtained from the treated substrates was 32.05%. Maximum ethanol yield of 10.5 % v/v was obtained by the mixed culture at day 6, while A. niger, N. crassa and S. cerevisiae singly gave a peak ethanol yields of 7.5%, 5.2% and 7.9% v/v after 6 days of fermentation. Temperature and pH had significant (P<0.05) effect on bio-ethanol yield, with the optimal range being 35 ± 20C, and 4.4-5.0 respectively. The findings from this study suggest that melon seed peels, a common agro-waste, contain fermentable sugars that could be exploited for bio-ethanol production using palm oil effluent fungi
Key words: Bio-fuel, Melon seed peel, palm oil effluent, fossil fuel