A Comparative Study on the Utilization of Corn Pericarp and Peanut Hull in the Production of Ethanol and the Impact on Food Economics

Abstract

Corn pericarp and peanut hull (lignocellulosic materials) which are food industry by-products were used as substrates in this study. Alkaline hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) pretreatments at 0%, 2.5% and 5% were used for the removal of lignin. Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) and Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation (SHF) were conducted using Aspergillus niger (strain 201201) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain 26603). Aspergillus niger was added on day 1 to all samples with inoculation treatments of S. cerevisiae at one-day intervals (A = Day 1, B = Day 2, C = Day 3 and D = Day 4). Pretreatment with 2.5% H 2 O 2 was more beneficial in the removal of lignin for both substrates. Corn pericarp yielded an ethanol concentration of 22.2 g/L in C and 21.78 g/L in D of 2.5% H 2 O 2 pretreatment. Peanut hull with 2.5% H 2 O 2 pretreatment in D yielded a higher concentration at 10.38 g/L compared to other inoculation treatments. The highest ethanol yielded on a percentage basis for corn pericarp was 45.04% in C of 2.5% H 2 O 2 pretreatment and 24.6% in D of 2.5% H 2 O 2 pretreatment for peanut hull.