(47e) Ethanol Production on Date Syrup Using Yeast: Process Optimization Study for Pilot Scale Production

Yeast is one of a most promising species for ethanol production using various substrates. In the present study bioethanol production from commercially available date syrup was evaluated for yield and process optimization parameters using Central Composite Design (CCD). Date syrup as substrate is quite economic in this part of the world. The ethanol production is specifically chosen to support the industry during falling crude prices globally on one hand, and if successfully produced & economically optimized for large scale production over date syrup; the ethanol production can become a boon to the otherwise struggling date palm agro-economic sector in region; on the other hand. Fermentation temperature, concentration of date syrup sugar, nitrogen source, C/N ratio, feed flow rate, pH, was optimized through CCD in a pilot scale fermentor. The data was compared with production over standard media. Using date syrup, growth kinetics and yields were found to be near double to that of the standard media. With a controlled flow rate; above 97% sugar conversion was achieved. Urea was used as supplemental Nitrogen source for pilot level production and the efficiency of the conversion process was recorded.