Exploring golden shower foliage fermentable sugars untapped potential and promise for sustainable bioethanol development

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of golden shower foliage (GSF) fermentable sugars for sustainable bioethanol production. Utilizing chemical and biological pretreatments involving agents such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium oxide (CaO), and Trichoderma reesei. The research analyzed various aspects including reducing sugar coefficient, total sugar, degree of polymerization (DP), and derived energy. Results underscored the efficacy of a 3% NaOH solution over 72 hours in maximizing sugar and energy concentration, facilitating efficient lignocellulosic biomass conversion into sugar. However, the economic viability for large-scale deployment poses a challenge, directing attention to the cost-benefit of incorporating CaO due to its affordability compared to NaOH without notably diminishing output efficiency. The role of T. reesei, a notable entity in biomass decomposition and a staple in biofuel production, was also highlighted. The research further delved into the complexity of carbohydrate structures and the significant role of the degree of polymerization, influencing the classification of carbohydrates based on their monomer count. Therefore, this approach is the cost and competitiveness of the pretreatment on the hydrolysis phase of large-scale fermentable sugar is a hurdle.