A Comparative Study on Acid Hydrolysis of Corn Cob and Cassava Bagasse for the Production of Biobutanol

Abstract

Energy demand has increased as a result of growing global population and industrialization. In this work, the acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic feedstock was the main topic. The hydrolysis of maize cob and cassava bagasse is compared in this study. Both waste materials, maize cob and cassava bagasse, are suitable as biobutanol feedstocks due to their estimated hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin contents. Fermentable sugar was created by the hydrolysis of diluted sulfuric acid. The concentration, temperature, and duration of the acid hydrolysis were optimized using the response surface methodology. Several fermentable sugars from both feedstocks were recovered through this process. Total sugars in corn cob and cassava bagasse responded at their maximum levels at 760C, 31 minutes, and 4.3% (w/w) hydrogen sulphide, measuring 804.23 mg/L and 807.28 mg/L, respectively. The results from this study allows us to conclude that cassava bagasse and maize cob are two good and environmentally friendly feedstock options for the synthesis of biobutanol, with cassava bagasse giving a better yield.