The Efficacy of the Period of Saccharification on Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Trunk Sap Hydrolysis

Abstract

This study investigates the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Trunk (OPT) sap in terms of the length of saccharification process with the aim to elevate sugar production. Emphasis was placed on the reaction time and addition of supplements such epsom salt (MgSO4) and alanine amino acid (C3H7NO2) to accelerate the efficiency of Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing the enzyme invertase. A whole oil palm trunk was divided into four different sections, upper, middle-1, middle-2 and bottom with separate experiments over 10 days enzymatic reaction period. The highest saccharification rate was shown as 13.47% on the tenth day. This result indicates that the increase in the saccharification rate was positively correlated with the length of hydrolysis. Moreover, the sample with nutrients achieved the highest sugar output, 17.91% on the fourth day of hydrolysis which was 4.44% higher than the hydrolysis rate of the sample without nutrients. In the presence of complex OPT sugars, together with other essential elements, epsom salt and alanine amino acid, S.cerevisiae achieved a higher hydrolysis metabolism to simple sugars as the cells strived to produce energy and regenerated the invertase. Moreover, the upper part of the OPT rendered the highest potential for sugar production with levels of 21.2% with supplements and 15.6% without. From this experimental analysis, a conventional saccharification method was optimized through the addition of nutrients and a prolonged (10 days) hydrolysis process which yielded an increase in sugar production.

Experimental Investigation, Techno-Economic Analysis and Environmental Impact of Bioethanol Production from Banana Stem

“…It can be concluded that S. cerevisiae still has not consumed a large amount of glucose content inside the solution. A previous saccharification study from oil palm trunk (OPT) demonstrated that Epsom salt (MgSO 4 ) and alanine amino acid (C 3 H 5 NO 2 ) addition, during hydrolysis increased the sugar yield from 12.52% to 17.19% [27]. Hence, additional supplements, such as vitamin B 12 , Epsom salt, alanine amino acid, and other vitamins-minerals, as well as recombinant yeast and yeast strains to the fermentation solution, are highly recommended for further experiments to obtain desired sugar content [43].…”

“…Table 4 shows that the pure bioethanolic yield was 0.25 mL/mL fermented solution or 25%. After obtaining distilled bioethanol, the left-over solution may contain unfermented sugars, by-products (heavy alcohols, aldehydes, and others), Na 2 SO 4 , water, lignin, and gaseous components: CO 2 and CH 4 [27,45]. The bioethanol of banana stem grown in Malaysia was higher than the highest leading feedstock for bioethanol of the country, oil palm trunk (OPT).…”

“…Since banana stem cannot be obtained at a consistent amount all over the year, the production of a inconsistent amount of bioethanol and electricity is expected. In this case, other feedstocks for bioethanol (e.g., oil palm trunk, fronds, leaves) are recommended to be integrated since oil palm is the highest abandoned biomass in Malaysia [27]. There is an established Malaysian Government Renewable Energy Policy named 'Bioenergy, Biofuels for Transport' of policy type 'Regulatory Instruments, Policy Support and Strategic…”

“…In addition, a previous study demonstrated that the banana stem is usually combined with cellulose 34.5%, hemicelluloses 25.6%, and low lignin 12% [26]. High cellulosic content with low lignin causes low resistance to enzymatic attack and makes banana stem a high potential lignocellulosic biomass which could be used for the production of bio-ethanol [27].…”

Techno‐economics and Sensitivity Analysis of Microalgae as Commercial Feedstock for Bioethanol Production

“…In the recent world, energy turned into a key driving force has been researched for enhancing optimized usages and generating renewable sources due to tremendous depletion of fossil fuel and threatening greenhouse effects . In this regard, the alternative source of energy generation became a crucial concept to be considered.…”