Ethanol Extract from Rice (Oryza sativa) straws for
biofuel production
RESEARCHERS:
Michaela Joy Galit
Stephen Ibanez
Princess Mae Idaosos
Micah Angela Palcat
Hazyl Ann Pollicar
Romel Recaido
Ethanol Extract from Rice (Oryza sativa) straws for biofuel production
INTRODUCTION:
Fossil fuels applications are linked with current widely held environmental
issues. The decline of these fuels resources with environmental penalties has compelled for
substitutes and usage of renewable biofuel as energy sources, has gained a significant importance
in last two decades. The involvement of biofuel in worldwide transportation fuels seems to be
revolving about 5% over the next decade.
Scientists have known for years about the deadly impacts of fossil fuel combustion,
but a new peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Research puts the global death toll at
more than twice that of previous estimates. According to the research, exposure to fine
particulate matter, from burning fossil fuels was responsible for about 8.7 million deaths globally
in 2018. That’s roughly the same number of people living in New York City or London. Or, to
put this health crisis into further perspective, fossil fuel pollution is not only fueling the climate
crisis but it also kills more people each year than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined (Clara
Chaisson, 2021). The release of Carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels, the key
contributor to the process has generated the interest in promoting biofuel as one of the leading
renewable energy sources (Kumar et al. 2013).
Biofuels are fuels that have been developed from other materials such as
plant matter and animal waste matter. The most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. They
are made from various plant parts as well as animal fats (Muhammad Arshad, 2018). It is
increasing clear that biofuels can be a viable source of energy in contrast to the finite nature,
geopolitical instability, and deleterious global effects of fossil fuel energy. Consideration of the
increasing environmental problems and the possible crisis of fossil fuel availability at record high
prices dictate that some changes will need to occur sooner rather than later.
All over the globe, since ages, the production of rice is one of the
significant activities in agriculture. It is the third most-produced agricultural product below
sugarcane and corn (Per Pinstrup-Andersen, 2015). Globally, roughly 800 to 1,000 million tons
per year of rice straw is produced, with about 600 to 800 million tons per year produced in Asia.
With such an increase in rice production, there has been an increase in the residues of rice, which
is the non-edible part and is left post harvestation process (rice straw, rice husk) as well in the
bulk amount (Huang and Lo, 2019).
The widespread burning of rice straw is a major contributor to dangerously high levels
of air pollution in South- and Southeast Asia associated with health issues. Rice straw is a
residual byproduct of rice production at harvest. Such residues have been under-used from the
beginning of the rice production and have a role in hampering the economy and environment.
Cultivators usually get rid of such residues through common practices like open-pit waste
burning that adds up harmful and toxic gases in the environment rendering air pollution and
ultimately crippling the health of the public because of their carcinogenic properties.
With such characteristics and ongoing environmental and energy issues,
researchers all over the globe are now showing much interest in exploiting lignocellulosic
biomass for the production of bioenergy in a sustainable way (Abaide et al., 2019) . For the
production of bioenergy, rice straw has alluring characteristic properties due to surplus
availability all over the globe. The total biomass of this residue depends on various factor s such
as varieties, soils and nutrient management and weather. Rice straw can potentially produce 205
billion liter bioethanol per year in the world, which is about 5% of total of consumption. It is the
largest amount from a single biomass feedstock. Rice straw predominantly contains cellulose
32-47%, hemicelluloses 19-27%, lignin 5-24% and ashes 18.8%.
Statement of the problem
General objective:
This study aims to determine if ethanol extract from Rice straws can be use for biofuel
production.
Specific objective:
•Is Rice straw effective as a biofuel in terms of its heat combustion, density and viscosity
•Is there a significant difference among the treatments in terms of its heat combustion,
viscosity, and density.
Hypothesis
1. There is no significant difference among the effects of different treatments as biofuel in
terms of its heat combustion, viscosity and density.
Significance of the study
With the onset of numerous issues such as more consumption of fuel, global warming at an
alarming rate, exhaustion of fossil fuels, and the increase in the prices of fuels have allowed
one to look for an alternative for efficiently producing energy. The widespread burning of
rice straw is a major contributor to dangerously high levels of air pollution in South- and
Southeast Asia associated with health issues. Because of the numerous issues about fuel and
to lessen crops residues, the researchers aim to produce alternative and cheaper biofuel from
rice straws.
Review of Related Literature
It is increasing clear that biofuels can be a viable source of renewable energy in
contrast to the finite nature, geopolitical instability, and deleterious global effects of fossil fuel
energy.mar et al. 2013)
Biofuels is a collective term for liquid fuels derived from renewable sources, including
ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable liquid fuels. The most common biofuels are ethanol and
biodiesel. They are made from various plant parts as well as animal fats (Muhammad Arshad,
2018).
The high energy demand and the negative environmental impact of fossil fuels have increased the
global demand for the development of new energy sources. Biofuels are a promising alternative due to
1
flexibility and availability in feedstock, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and potential for decreasing
the production costs. (Keikhosro Karimi, et.al, 2017)
Rice straw is a residual product of rice post-harvest. The total biomass is dependent on numerous
factors like rice varieties, soil management practice, nutrient management practice, weather, etc. The total
amount of rice straw obtained from the field is dependent majorly on the cutting height, which is the height
of the stubble which is left in the field. Rice straw is collected, burned, and left to incorporate.
Rice straw are attractive lignocellulosic materials for bioethanol production and these are
the most abundant renewable resources. These substrates have high cellulose and hemicellulose
contents that can be hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars.
METHODOLOGY
Materials
For the gathering of the materials, we will need 1 sack and 8 kg of rice straws. For the pulverizing
and fermentation of rice straws, we need scissors for cutting, blender, mortar and pestle,
4 same-sized containers with lid, distilled water, distiller's yeast and hydrometer. Distiller's apparatus is
needed for the distillation process. Lastly, to test the treatments, we will need weighing scale, marbles
thermometer, matches and 15 pieces metal containers.
Collection and preparation of Rice straws
The researchers will gather 1 sack of rice straws in the rice fields of Barangay
Pacencia, Tobias Fornier, Antique. The straws will then be washed and air-dried for 1 day.
Pulverizing and adding of distilled water and distiller’s yeast
4kg of straws will be cut in about 2 cm with scissors and pulverized using a
blender, mortar and pestle. 1kg of the pulverized straws will be put inside a container according to
its treatments. There will be a total of four treatments. 1L of distilled water is poured and one (1)
packet of distiller’s yeast is added inside of each container with the pulverized rice straws. Then
cove r the top of the container with its lid.
Fermentation
The researchers will allow the solution to sit until completely fermented. Over the
course of about two weeks, the sugar content should slowly decrease until it reaches zero. The
sugar content of each treatments will be checked using the hydrometer until it reads zero.
Distillation of the fermented rice straws
Because ethanol boils at a lower temperature than water, the ethanol can be separated
by a process called distillation. Conventional distillation system can produce
ethanol at 92-95% purity. The residual water is then removed using molecular sieves
that collectively absorb the water from the ethanol-water vapor mixture resulting in nearly pure
ethanol.
Treatments
Treatment A – 100% (200mL pure rice straw ethanol solution)
Treatment B – 75% (150mL rice straw ethanol and 50mL gasoline)
Treatment C – 50% (100mL rice straw ethanol and 100mL gasoline)
Treatment D – 25% (50mL rice straw ethanol and 150mL gasoline)
Treatment E – 200ml Diesel
There will be five treatments in three replications. In treatment A is the 100% which is the 100ml
pure ethanol rice straw, treatment B is the 75% which consist of 150ml rice straw ethanol and 50ml gasoline,
Treatment C is the 50% consist of 100ml rice straw ethanol and 100ml gasoline, Treatment D is the 25%
which is the 50ml of ethanol rice straw and 150ml gasoline, and the Treatment E is the control which is the
commercial product.
Measurement of the Viscosity of each treatment
Viscosity is the resistance of a fluid. The mixtures will be poured inside the tubes to its corresponding
treatments with the same amount. To measure the viscosity of each treatments, the researchers will drop one
marble to each tubes and observe what happens to the marble when it enters the liquid. The researchers will
determine how fast or slow marbles sink to the bottom using a stopwatch.
Measurement of the Density
To get the density of the each treatments, hydrometer will be used. Each treatments will be put
inside a cylinder with the same amount. The hydrometer will be place inside the liquid, and it will start to
oscillate for a moment before stopping. After making sure that the hydrometer steadies and does not stick to
the sides of the cylinder, it will indicate the density of the liquid. The results will be recorded after. The same
process will be done with the other treatments.
Heat Combustion Measurement
Data Gathering
To test the effectiveness of the fuel treatments, the researchers will determine the
combustion, viscosity and density of each treatment. After the results are recorded, the researchers
will get the mean of each treatments. One-way ANOVA will be used as the statistical formula for
the study.
Risk Assessment
Waste disposal
After the experimentation, all the materials will be washed with soap
and water and the disposable waste will be thrown in a compost pit.
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