Scribd
Upload
98 views1 page

Bioethanol Production from Paragis

The document describes the steps researchers took to produce bioethanol from Paragis grass through pre-treatment, acid hydrolysis, fermentation, distillation, and fuel property analysis. The researchers harvested, washed, and chopped the grass before combining it with acid and heating it. They then conducted fermentation for 7 days before filtering and distilling the sample. Finally, they analyzed the ethanol to determine its feasibility as a biofuel.

Uploaded by

Mark Fernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
98 views1 page

Bioethanol Production from Paragis

The document describes the steps researchers took to produce bioethanol from Paragis grass through pre-treatment, acid hydrolysis, fermentation, distillation, and fuel property analysis. The researchers harvested, washed, and chopped the grass before combining it with acid and heating it. They then conducted fermentation for 7 days before filtering and distilling the sample. Finally, they analyzed the ethanol to determine its feasibility as a biofuel.

Uploaded by

Mark Fernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Research Methods

The bioethanol extraction process was conducted through several meticulous steps, with each step
contributing to the overall quality and feasibility of the end product. The researchers involved in this
study used Paragis (Eleusine indica) as the raw material for bioethanol production.

Pre-treatment: They began the process by carefully harvesting fresh Paragis (Eleusine indica) early in the
morning to preserve the moisture content from the soil. This required the use of a grass cutter or sickle
while leaving the roots intact. Following the harvest, the researchers thoroughly washed the Paragis to
eliminate any dirt and rocks. Subsequently, they sundried the harvested material to prepare it for further
processing. After sun drying, they chopped the Paragis into smaller pieces using a knife and scissors.

Acid Hydrolysis: In the acid hydrolysis process, they combined dry biomass (100 g) with 500 ml of 3%
sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The mixture was heated at 100°C for a duration of 75 minutes, with temperature
closely monitored using a thermometer to maintain it between 80-100°C. Once the process was complete,
the mixture was cooled to room temperature, and its pH was adjusted to fall within the range of 6 using
1 L of 5M NaOH and 500 mL of pH 4.0 citrate buffer solution. The resulting mixture was measured and
standardized to 375 ml using a graduated cylinder. It was then mixed in a container to initiate an
exothermic reaction.

Fermentation: The researchers began the fermentation process by heating distilled water in a container,
ensuring that the temperature did not exceed 40°C. In this phase, they mixed 750 ml of warm distilled
water with 300 g of yeast and a 75 g of white sugar to serve as a source of nutrition for the bacteria and
facilitate yeast activation. The solution was mixed and left undisturbed for 20 minutes to allow the yeast
to become activated. Following this period, the activated yeast was added to the Paragis sample. To
prevent early pressure build-up, the sample with the activated yeast was transferred to a container,
Subsequently, the container was sealed to establish an anaerobic environment, and the sample underwent
fermentation for a duration of 7 days.

Distillation: In the distillation stage, they filtered the fermented sample to remove accumulated solids,
foams, and yeast after the 7-day fermentation period. Following this filtration, they employed a rotary
evaporation, The aim of this is to remove excess solvent from less volatile samples.

Fuel Property Analysis: The researchers subjected the ethanol obtained from the distillation process to a
comprehensive analysis to determine its feasibility as a biofuel. Parameters assessed included viscosity,
percentage yield, flammability, pH level, and density. This analysis was crucial in ensuring the suitability
and quality of the bioethanol as a potential fuel source.

You might also like