Enhanced acid hydrolysis for bioethanol production from water hyacinth <span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI">(<i>Eichhornia crassipes) </i>using fermentating yeast <i>Candida intermedia </i>NRRL <i>Y-981</i></span>

Abstract

This study presents bioconversion of water hyacinth (<i>Eichhornia crassipes</i>) to bioethanol using two-sequential steps of acid

hydrolysis (10% sulfuric acid) and yeast (<i>Candida intermedia</i>) fermentation. Maximum ethanol yield co-efficient was comparable

to those obtained through enzymatic saccharification and fermentation of acid hydrolysate using fully equipped fermentor. A

maximum ethanol yield (coefficient, 0.21 g g^-1; productivity, 0.010 g l^-1h^-1) was comparable to predicted value (0.23 g g^-1) obtained

by CCD (Central Composite Design). Two colorimetric methods (phloroglucinol and dichromate assays) were used for determination

of xylose and ethanol using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Although maximum ethanol concentration was low, an economically

efficient overall process was carried out to convert a lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol.