BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FRUITS OF BANGLADESH

Bangladesh is an energy deficient country. Petroleum is the main energy source of Bangladesh imported from the Middle East spending a huge amount of foreign currency. However, the subtropical climate of Bangladesh is favorable for the cultivation of different agricultural products and fruits. This research was carried out to find out the potentiality of bioethanol production from different agricultural products and fruits of Bangladesh. In 100 gm of agri-products (boiled) and fruits (ripen), 300 ml of distilled water was added and blended and then sterilized. Alpha-amylase enzyme (1750 unit) was added to degrade the starch into simple sugar compound. For alcoholic fermentation, 200 ml yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCD) was added to make the total volume of 500 ml and incubated at 31 degrees C for 6-days. From the fermentation of agri-products (potato, sweet potato, corn, pumpkin and carrot), the highest bioethanol production was observed in sweet potato. The bioethanol production capacity of four fruits (orange, banana, papaya and sapota) was also assessed. A high yield of bioethanol was found from a local variety of banana called Sagorkola (Musa sapientum L.). The purity of bioethanol in single distillation for banana and sweet potato was 40% and 35%, respectively. This research proved that Bangladesh has a good prospect of bioethanol production from banana and sweet potato.