EVALUATION OF BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION POTENTIAL FROM EUCALYPTUS TERETICORNIS BIO WASTE USING: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Sacharomyces cerevisae

Abstract

The use of bark and leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis (forestry waste with no appreciable value to industries or competitive use as food) as alternative and cost effective feedstock for bioethanol production was examined. Eucalyptus tereticornis biomass (bark and leaves) were pretreated with microwave irradiation (250V, 50Hz) prior to fermentation with Bacillus subtilis and E.coli isolated from soil, and Saccharomyces cerevisae purchased from market. The highest reducing sugar yield of 43.5 % and 40 % were obtained from bark and leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis pretreated with microwave irradiation as compared to untreated biomass. Bioethanol production concentration of 0.52% was higher in microwave irradiated bark of E .tereticornis during 21 days of fermentation while the least concentration of 0.13% was obtained from combination of bark and leaves of E .tereticornis at 21 days when B. subtilis and E. coli were used in synergy. The study concludes that synergy between B. subtilis and E. coli may be a better combination for bioethanol production from E. tereticornis Bio waste.