Investigating the Interactions between Cultural Conditions in the Simultaneous Saccharification and Co-fermentation of Cassava Peels using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

The development of cost-effective and efficient bioethanol production is essential for advancing renewable energy in Nigeria. Cassava peels, a widely available agro-waste material, provide a renewable and low-cost feedstock for bioethanol production. This study optimized bioethanol production from cassava peels by examining the impact of key process variables—pH, temperature, glucose concentration, inoculum size, and potassium nitrate—on bioethanol yield using a quadratic model and response surface methodology. Fermentation was conducted using Saccharomyces cerevisiae over a 120-hour period. The findings demonstrated that each of the key variables significantly influenced ethanol yield, with pH, temperature, glucose concentration, inoculum size, and potassium nitrate exhibiting statistically significant linear effects (p < 0.0001). Additionally, two-way interactions between these factors were also significant (p < 0.05), with temperature identified as the most influential variable on ethanol yield, closely followed by the interaction between glucose concentration and potassium nitrate. These results highlight the importance of optimizing these conditions for bioethanol production and highlight that the biochemical production of bioethanol from cassava peels is shaped by the combined effects of these variables. The study concludes that cassava peels are a promising sustainable and cost-effective feedstock for bioethanol production. Future research should explore the scalability of this optimized process for industrial applications, including pilot-scale and commercial production. Further investigation into other parameters, such as fermentation time, pressure, and alternative yeast strains, could enhance bioethanol yield. A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment are also recommended to evaluate the economic and environmental viability of large-scale production. Government and industry stakeholders are encouraged to implement policies and incentives promoting agro-waste materials like cassava peels in renewable energy production, thereby fostering sustainability and reducing waste.