PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOETHANOL FROM SUGARCANE MOLASSES
The dependence on oil (fossil fuel) across most industrial sectors, especially transportation, is unsustainable in both the short and long term. The fossil fuel depletion and its environmental impacts drive industries to explore alternative fuel and promote the adoption of renewable energy sources like bioethanol. This study aims to produce and evaluate the performance characteristics of bioethanol from sugarcane molasses as an alternative to fossil fuel. This study, bioethanol was produced from sugarcane molasses obtained from Savannah Sugar Company Limited Numan, Nigeria. The properties of the bioethanol were characterised and compared with ASTM standard properties for bioethanol. The result revealed key properties such as moisture content (25.95%), Brix (35.69�Bx), viscosity (436.5 cm�/s), and density (1.183 g/cm�). Fermentation of the molasses using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus Niger, and Zymomonas mobilis was carried out over 120 hours. After fermentation, bioethanol yield was 18.4% by weight, and subsequent fractional distillation produced bioethanol with a density of 795 kg/m�, kinematic viscosity of 3.17 mm�/s at 40�C, octane number of 109, and calorific value of 31.5 MJ/kg. Based on the result of the study, sugarcane molasses is a good substrate to produce bioethanol that can be used for internal combustion engines instead of fossil fuels that pollutes the environment with its emissions.
Authors : Bukar, A. A., Soja, Y.J., Yami, A.M. and Usman, A.M.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 11(2) Date Uploaded : 23rd July 2025