"Fuel of the Future": Production of Ethanol from Mabolo by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Increase in the need for petroleum products results in a remarkable rise in prices. Therefore, countries are required to discover alternative cheaper sources for the fulfillment of worldwide demand. The main objective of this study is to develop easier techniques by using cheaper sources for production so that the common people can also produce it by themselves. For this purpose, velvet apples or "mabolo" were taken as a substrate for ethanol production, adding the microorganism Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

METHODS

The study underwent various procedures such as fruit mash production, fermentation, distillation process, and physical property analysis which include boiling point and specific gravity. Twenty respondents were chosen randomly as samples for performing the intrinsic property analysis to evaluate and analyze the produced alcohol from mabolo fruit in terms of its flammability, solubility, and volatility. It was rated as very good, good, satisfactory, fair and poor through the Likert Scale test. After coming up with the results, it was tabulated and a mean, percentage and frequency counts were used to describe the result statistically.

RESULTS

The Gas Chromatography analysis done by the Department of Energy showed that the fermented extract produced 99.37% v/v Ethanol and 0.07% v/v Methanol. Intrinsic properties such as solubility, flammability and volatility were also determined through sensory evaluation test. The results indicated that the ethanol production rate through fermentation of "mabolo" fruit pulp yields was optimal at pH 5.5, with the temperature at 78°C, and specific gravity at 0.7.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the results of the investigation, the researcher concluded that this study is very important and relevant. It has accomplished the purpose of making a natural, useful product that will likely ease the burden of the energy crisis. It is clean and good for the environment because it releases no toxic gases and not harmful to human health.