Production of Bioethanol from Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum)
Production of Bioethanol from Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Bioethanol is the most widely used among the liquid biofuels. Ethanol is produced by fermentation of sugars from sugarcane or sugar beet, and indirectly from more complex carbohydrates such as starch from corn, wheat, potatoes or cassava. Ethanol thus produced is expensive as it dips into food and feed material. Bioethanol refers to ethanol produced from complex carbohydrates such as lignocellulose which is not used as food or feed. It has been estimated that approximately half of the carbon fixed annually within terrestrial ecosystems is stored as lignocellulose; thus there is an abundant source of complex carbohydrate for bioethanol production.
Biomass from crop residues is the cheapest feedstock for bioethanol production and includes materials left in an agricultural field after crop harvest such as stalks and stubble, corn cobs, straw, leaves, grasses, hardwood and softwood. Harvesting of cereals, vegetables and fruits generates huge amounts of crop residues. The processing residues include nut shells, rice husk, rice bran, wheat bran, sugar cane bagasse, waste paper, etc.
Bioethanol from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is another concept being tested. The cellulose content in MSW is mainly from paper wastes such as office paper, coated paper, newsprint and corrugated boxes. Food waste contains a variable amount of cellulose, accounting for around 50 per cent of the residue on average. Tomato and grape processing residues can be harnessed for ethanol production.
Objectives of the study This study aims to: a. Find a different source for bioethanol;
b. Test if tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) have the substances needed to produce bioethanol; and
c. Test if production of bioethanol using tomatoes is possible.
Hypothesis Null hypothesis Bioethanol cannot be
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Bioethanol is the most widely used among the liquid biofuels. Ethanol is produced by fermentation of sugars from sugarcane or sugar beet, and indirectly from more complex carbohydrates such as starch from corn, wheat, potatoes or cassava. Ethanol thus produced is expensive as it dips into food and feed material. Bioethanol refers to ethanol produced from complex carbohydrates such as lignocellulose which is not used as food or feed. It has been estimated that approximately half of the carbon fixed annually within terrestrial ecosystems is stored as lignocellulose; thus there is an abundant source of complex carbohydrate for bioethanol production.
Biomass from crop residues is the cheapest feedstock for bioethanol production and includes materials left in an agricultural field after crop harvest such as stalks and stubble, corn cobs, straw, leaves, grasses, hardwood and softwood. Harvesting of cereals, vegetables and fruits generates huge amounts of crop residues. The processing residues include nut shells, rice husk, rice bran, wheat bran, sugar cane bagasse, waste paper, etc.
Bioethanol from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is another concept being tested. The cellulose content in MSW is mainly from paper wastes such as office paper, coated paper, newsprint and corrugated boxes. Food waste contains a variable amount of cellulose, accounting for around 50 per cent of the residue on average. Tomato and grape processing residues can be harnessed for ethanol production.
Objectives of the study This study aims to: a. Find a different source for bioethanol;
b. Test if tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) have the substances needed to produce bioethanol; and
c. Test if production of bioethanol using tomatoes is possible.
Hypothesis Null hypothesis Bioethanol cannot be
Bibliography: Web source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/219640/future-power.html http://www.academicjournals.org/AJMR/fulltext/2011/30Oct/Rathod%20et%20%20al.htm http://www.green-car-guide.com/the-uk-gets-its-first-bioethanol-plant.html http://www.ask.com/question/tomato-scientific-name http://www.makebiofuel.co.uk/bioethanol-production http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014811100382X