The Versatility of Mixed Lignocellulose Feedstocks for Bioethanol Production: an Experimental Study and Empirical Prediction

Abstract

The development and use of renewable energy resources is a crucial solution for a sustainable energy strategy to decrease the dependence on fossil fuels. Lignocellulosic ethanol has gained recognition as a renewable energy resource vital for sustainable development. Currently, the research and industry sectors utilize a single type of lignocellulose biomass for ethanol production. However, this biomass dependency is a potential risk due to the global warming effect on biomass plantations. This study assessed the versatility of rice straw (RS), Napier grass (NG), and sugarcane bagasse (SB) as a mixed biomass for bioethanol production. The mixture of equal proportion of RS, NG, and SB in a 1:1:1 ratio produced higher concentration of bioethanol than individual biomasses. NaOH-pretreated samples were more effective than H₂SO₄ pretreated and untreated samples in bioethanol production. The NaOH-pretreated mixed sample yielded maximum bioethanol of 0.82% (v/v). About 0.43 g/g and 0.12 g/g of reducing sugars and ethanol, respectively, could be produced using RS, NG, and SB in the ratio of 1:1:1. This research indicates that different biomass types can replace one another in the event of limited resources, thus reducing the dependency on a particular biomass type for biorefinery.