Second-generation ethanol from pineapple leaf fibers

Abstract

The use of different lignocellulosic residues for the production of cellulosic ethanol is an alternative for the expanding demand of this fuel without increasing the planting area of traditional carbohydrate crops. One of the proposed alternatives is the use of pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) residues, which is a material rich in cellulose that can be used as raw material for second-generation (2G) ethanol production. In this study, the PALF was pretreated using an alkaline medium combined with a steam explosion and the 2G ethanol produSction was analyzed by two-way processes to enzymatic hydrolysis using separated hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) or simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Using SHF, the alcoholic fermentation process with addition of molasses provided good fermentability and can handle larger loads of carbohydrate in shorter fermentation time. The SSF was a better method for 2G ethanol production from PALF yielding 96.12%. Therefore, PALF is presented as good raw material for production of 2G ethanol, with all the environmental and social advantages of such approach.