Factors Affecting the Ethanol Production from Sugar Beet Molasses

Abstract

Sugar beet molasses is one of the important by products in sugar industry, it in dark brown to black colored and rich source of various polysaccharides. So, it can be used in the production of ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Data showed that 2% inoculums size was the best size of all tested for molasses media. Where the alcohol production was 4.6 ml /100 media with economic coefficient 53.7% and yield coefficient 46.1%. Also, incubation periods were tested from 2 to 14 days. Maximum alcohol production was noticed at the sixth day of fermentation, it was 4.71% ml/100ml medium. The economic and yield coefficient were 53.7% and 46.1%; respectively. Results showed at 30°C incubation temperature the yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced high value of ethanol production. 4.61 ml /100ml medium with high value of economic coefficient 53.7% and 46.1% of yield coefficient. While PH 5 was the optimal value for ethanol production from molasses, where alcohol production was 4.61%, economic coefficient and yield coefficient were 53.7% and 46.1%, respectively. Increasing the PH value up to 5.5 did not increase the ethanol production. but ethanol production was recorded decrease value. Data showed that at 20°C incubation temperature and 14.0% initial, sugar the ethanol production was 5.16% with 40% economic coefficient, while at 30°C incubation temperature the maximum ethanol production was 6.3% with economic coefficient 49.0% where the initial sugar was 14.0%.