Optimization of Bioethanol Production from Agricultural Waste Using Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation Kinetics Modeling

Karthik Srinivas

Department of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India

Abstract

As the global need for sustainable and renewable energy sources grows, research into second-generation biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass has become more intense. Agricultural by-products like rice straw, corn stover, wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse offer plentiful and cost-effective raw materials for bioethanol production. Nonetheless, the effective transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars poses a major hurdle due to the intricate composition of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This study thoroughly explores the optimization of bioethanol production from agricultural waste by combining enzymatic hydrolysis with fermentation kinetics modeling. The research encompasses biomass pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, fermentation optimization, and mathematical modeling to boost ethanol yield and process efficiency. Enzymatic hydrolysis, utilizing cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes, is used to convert pretreated agricultural residues into fermentable sugars, which are then fermented using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Kinetic models such as Monod, Michaelis–Menten, and logistic growth equations are employed to characterize substrate utilization, microbial growth, and ethanol production. Optimization methods like response surface methodology (RSM) are applied to identify the best enzyme loading, temperature, pH, and fermentation duration. The results indicate that optimized conditions for hydrolysis and fermentation greatly improve ethanol productivity and yield while shortening process time. The use of kinetic modeling offers insights into process dynamics and scalability for industrial applications. This study aids in advancing sustainable biofuel production technologies and supports the development of efficient biorefinery systems that utilize agricultural waste.

Keywords

Agricultural residues, Bioethanol, Biorefinery, Enzymatic breakdown, Fermentation dynamics, Lignocellulosic feedstock, Mathematical simulation, Process enhancement, Renewable power, Saccharification