The growing demand for energy in the world, the implications of climate change, the increasing damages to our environment and the diminishing fossil fuel reserves have created the appropriate conditions for renewable energy development. Biofuels such as bioethanol can be produced by breaking down the lignocellulosic structure of plant materials to release fermentable sugars. Sweet sorghum bagasse has been shown to be an important lignocellulosic crop residue and is potentially a significant feedstock for bioethanol production. The aim of this study was to investigate suitable microwave assisted pretreatment conditions of sweet sorghum bagasse for bioethanol production. A chemical pretreatment process of sweet sorghum bagasse, using different concentrations (1 to 7 wt%) of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)2) was applied to break up the lignocellulosic matrix of sweet sorghum bagasse. The pretreated broth, which contained pentose and hexose sugars, was fermented using a combination of Zymomonas mobilis ATCC31821 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce bioethanol at pH 4.8 and 32oC for 24 hours. The highest reducing sugar yield of 0.82 g/g substrate was obtained with microwave irradiation at 180 W for 20 minutes in a 5 wt% sulphuric acid solution. The highest ethanol yield obtained was 0.5 g/g from 5 wt% H2SO4 pretreated bagasse at 180 W using a 10:5% v/v of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Zymomonas mobilis ratio, whereas for 3 wt% Ca (OH)2 microwave pretreatment, a sugar yield of 0.27 g/g substrate was obtained at 300 W for 10 minutes. Thereafter, an ethanol yield of 0.13 g/g substrate was obtained after 24 hours of fermentation when using a 10:5% v/v of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Zymomonas mobilis ratio. The effect of microwave pretreatment on the bagasse was evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The reducing sugars formed were quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that microwave pretreatment using 5 wt% H2SO4 is a very effective pretreatment that can be used to obtain sugars from sweet sorghum bagasse. The analytic results also showed physical and functional group changes after microwave pretreatment. This confirms that microwave irradiation is very effective in terms of breaking up the lignocellulose structure and improving fermentable sugar yield for fermentation. Bioethanol yields obtained from microwave pretreatment using different solvents also show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis ATCC31821 is a good combination for producing ethanol from sweet sorghum bagasse. Sweet sorghum bagasse is clearly a very effective and cheap biomass that can be used to produce bioethanol, since very high yields of fermentable sugars were obtained from the feedstock. / Thesis (MSc (Engineering Sciences in Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The growing demand for energy in the world, the implications of climate change, the increasing damages to our environment and the diminishing fossil fuel reserves have created the appropriate conditions for renewable energy development. Biofuels such as bioethanol can be produced by breaking down the lignocellulosic structure of plant materials to release fermentable sugars. Sweet sorghum bagasse has been shown to be an important lignocellulosic crop residue and is potentially a significant feedstock for bioethanol production. The aim of this study was to investigate suitable microwave assisted pretreatment conditions of sweet sorghum bagasse for bioethanol production. A chemical pretreatment process of sweet sorghum bagasse, using different concentrations (1 to 7 wt%) of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)2) was applied to break up the lignocellulosic matrix of sweet sorghum bagasse. The pretreated broth, which contained pentose and hexose sugars, was fermented using a combination of Zymomonas mobilis ATCC31821 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce bioethanol at pH 4.8 and 32oC for 24 hours. The highest reducing sugar yield of 0.82 g/g substrate was obtained with microwave irradiation at 180 W for 20 minutes in a 5 wt% sulphuric acid solution. The highest ethanol yield obtained was 0.5 g/g from 5 wt% H2SO4 pretreated bagasse at 180 W using a 10:5% v/v of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Zymomonas mobilis ratio, whereas for 3 wt% Ca (OH)2 microwave pretreatment, a sugar yield of 0.27 g/g substrate was obtained at 300 W for 10 minutes. Thereafter, an ethanol yield of 0.13 g/g substrate was obtained after 24 hours of fermentation when using a 10:5% v/v of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Zymomonas mobilis ratio. The effect of microwave pretreatment on the bagasse was evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The reducing sugars formed were quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that microwave pretreatment using 5 wt% H2SO4 is a very effective pretreatment that can be used to obtain sugars from sweet sorghum bagasse. The analytic results also showed physical and functional group changes after microwave pretreatment. This confirms that microwave irradiation is very effective in terms of breaking up the lignocellulose structure and improving fermentable sugar yield for fermentation. Bioethanol yields obtained from microwave pretreatment using different solvents also show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis ATCC31821 is a good combination for producing ethanol from sweet sorghum bagasse. Sweet sorghum bagasse is clearly a very effective and cheap biomass that can be used to produce bioethanol, since very high yields of fermentable sugars were obtained from the feedstock. / Thesis (MSc (Engineering Sciences in Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The concern over depleting fossil fuel resources and increasing greenhouse gas emissions has prompted the research into alternative and renewable energy resources. Bioethanol is seen as a potential alternative to petroleum fuels and is mainly produced from sugar and starch containing crops such as sugar cane and maize. In South Africa the use of maize for ethanol production has been prohibited due to food security concerns; therefore, alternative feedstocks need to be investigated. Tropical sugar beet, a new variety of sugar beet, is a potential alternative as it is able to grow in tropical and subtropical climates using much less water than sugar cane. The main objective of this study was to determine the potential of using tropical sugar beet for ethanol production. The study focused on the effects of dilution ratio, pH, yeast concentration and the addition of a nitrogen supplement on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% and a glycerol yield of 0.08 g.g–1 was obtained when no additional water was added to the juice. The best dilution ratio was found to be 1:4 which gave a maximum ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% and a glycerol yield of 0.07 g.g–1. An ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% was achieved at a yeast concentration of 5 g.L–1 after four hours of fermentation. Nitrogen supplements such as urea, peptone, yeast extract and ammonium sulphate were added during fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement to fermentation had a positive effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% was achieved when urea was added to the fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement also decreased the amount of glycerol formed from 0.15 g.g –1 to 0.08 g.g–1. Ammonium sulphate was chosen as the preferred nitrogen source as it is a simple component that can enter the cell directly. A maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 88%, was achieved when 750 mg N.L–1 ammonium sulphate was added. Adjusting the pH prior to fermentation had no real effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved at all the pH values investigated. Therefore the natural pH of the juice, or pH values between 4 and 5.5, could be used. Adjusting the pH was done to merely reduce the risk of contamination. The optimal fermentation parameters were found to be pH 4, yeast concentration 5 g.L–1 and a ammonium sulphate concentration of 750 mg N.L–1. At these conditions, a maximum ethanol of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved. These results show that tropical sugar beet with a sugar content of approximately 21.8% (w.w–1) is a good feedstock for ethanol production in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and there is a consequent need to resort to clean and renewable fuels. The major concerns with using agricultural crops for the production of energy are food and water security. Crops that do not threaten food security and that can be cultivated with a relatively low amount of water and produce high yields of fermentable sugars are therefore needed. Sweet sorghum is a fastgrowing crop that can be harvested twice a year and that can produce both food (grain) and energy (sugar juice from stems). Sweet sorghum bagasse can also be utilised for ethanol production. The aim of this study was to determine the sugar content of different sweet sorghum cultivars at different harvest times, and determine the cultivar that will produce the highest ethanol yield at optimized fermentation conditions. Sweet sorghum bagasse was also pretretated, enzymatic hydrolysed and fermented and the best pretreatment method and ethanol yield was determined. In this study, sweet sorghum juice, which mostly consists of readily fermentable sugars (glucose, sucrose and fructose), as well as the bagasse obtained after juice extraction, were converted to bio–ethanol. Sweet sorghum juice was fermented to ethanol using Saccharomyces cereviciae without any prior pretreatment. The effect of pH (4–6), yeast concentration (1–5g.L–1), initial sugar concentration (110–440g.L–1) and the addition of a nitrogen source (urea, ammonium sulphate, yeast extract and peptone) on the ethanol yield was investigated. The pretreatment of bagasse using sulphuric acid (3wt %), and calcium hydroxide (0.2g/g bagasse), followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using Celluclast 1.5L (0.25g/g bagasse), Novozyme 188 (0.24g/g bagasse) and Tween 80(1.25g.L–1) were adapted from Mabentsela (2010). Fermentation was done using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but it was unable to ferment the xylose sugar. The results show that the USA 1 cultivar contains the highest sugar content at 3 months. An ethanol and glycerol yield of 0.48g.g–1 and 0.05g.g–1 was observed respectively at a pH of 4.5, a yeast concentration of 3wt%, initial sugar concentration of 440g.L–1 and when ammonium sulphate was added to the fermentation broth as nitrogen source. The glycerol yield formed as a by–product during fermentation and at a maximum ethanol yield was 0.05g.g–1. The glucose yield obtained from sulphuric acid, base and ultrasonic wave pretreatment was 0.79g.g–1, 0.62g.g–1 and 0.62g.g–1 respectively. The glucose yield obtained after each type of pretreatment was higher than that obtained for unpretreated bagasse, which was 0.55g.g–1. Base pretreatment, ultrasonic wave pretreatment and unpretreated bagasse also contained fructose at the end of enzymatic hydrolysis. Base, sulphuric acid pretreatment disrupted the crystal structure of cellulose and increased the available surface, and therefore cellulose was easily accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis. Ultrasonic wave pretreatment showed potential in increasing the surface area for enzymatic hydrolysis but further investigations need to be done. From bagasse fermentation, 0.45g.g–1 – 0.39g.g–1 of ethanol per g of available fermentable sugar was obtained. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The concern over depleting fossil fuel resources and increasing greenhouse gas emissions has prompted the research into alternative and renewable energy resources. Bioethanol is seen as a potential alternative to petroleum fuels and is mainly produced from sugar and starch containing crops such as sugar cane and maize. In South Africa the use of maize for ethanol production has been prohibited due to food security concerns; therefore, alternative feedstocks need to be investigated. Tropical sugar beet, a new variety of sugar beet, is a potential alternative as it is able to grow in tropical and subtropical climates using much less water than sugar cane. The main objective of this study was to determine the potential of using tropical sugar beet for ethanol production. The study focused on the effects of dilution ratio, pH, yeast concentration and the addition of a nitrogen supplement on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% and a glycerol yield of 0.08 g.g–1 was obtained when no additional water was added to the juice. The best dilution ratio was found to be 1:4 which gave a maximum ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% and a glycerol yield of 0.07 g.g–1. An ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% was achieved at a yeast concentration of 5 g.L–1 after four hours of fermentation. Nitrogen supplements such as urea, peptone, yeast extract and ammonium sulphate were added during fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement to fermentation had a positive effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% was achieved when urea was added to the fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement also decreased the amount of glycerol formed from 0.15 g.g –1 to 0.08 g.g–1. Ammonium sulphate was chosen as the preferred nitrogen source as it is a simple component that can enter the cell directly. A maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 88%, was achieved when 750 mg N.L–1 ammonium sulphate was added. Adjusting the pH prior to fermentation had no real effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved at all the pH values investigated. Therefore the natural pH of the juice, or pH values between 4 and 5.5, could be used. Adjusting the pH was done to merely reduce the risk of contamination. The optimal fermentation parameters were found to be pH 4, yeast concentration 5 g.L–1 and a ammonium sulphate concentration of 750 mg N.L–1. At these conditions, a maximum ethanol of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved. These results show that tropical sugar beet with a sugar content of approximately 21.8% (w.w–1) is a good feedstock for ethanol production in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and there is a consequent need to resort to clean and renewable fuels. The major concerns with using agricultural crops for the production of energy are food and water security. Crops that do not threaten food security and that can be cultivated with a relatively low amount of water and produce high yields of fermentable sugars are therefore needed. Sweet sorghum is a fastgrowing crop that can be harvested twice a year and that can produce both food (grain) and energy (sugar juice from stems). Sweet sorghum bagasse can also be utilised for ethanol production. The aim of this study was to determine the sugar content of different sweet sorghum cultivars at different harvest times, and determine the cultivar that will produce the highest ethanol yield at optimized fermentation conditions. Sweet sorghum bagasse was also pretretated, enzymatic hydrolysed and fermented and the best pretreatment method and ethanol yield was determined. In this study, sweet sorghum juice, which mostly consists of readily fermentable sugars (glucose, sucrose and fructose), as well as the bagasse obtained after juice extraction, were converted to bio–ethanol. Sweet sorghum juice was fermented to ethanol using Saccharomyces cereviciae without any prior pretreatment. The effect of pH (4–6), yeast concentration (1–5g.L–1), initial sugar concentration (110–440g.L–1) and the addition of a nitrogen source (urea, ammonium sulphate, yeast extract and peptone) on the ethanol yield was investigated. The pretreatment of bagasse using sulphuric acid (3wt %), and calcium hydroxide (0.2g/g bagasse), followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using Celluclast 1.5L (0.25g/g bagasse), Novozyme 188 (0.24g/g bagasse) and Tween 80(1.25g.L–1) were adapted from Mabentsela (2010). Fermentation was done using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but it was unable to ferment the xylose sugar. The results show that the USA 1 cultivar contains the highest sugar content at 3 months. An ethanol and glycerol yield of 0.48g.g–1 and 0.05g.g–1 was observed respectively at a pH of 4.5, a yeast concentration of 3wt%, initial sugar concentration of 440g.L–1 and when ammonium sulphate was added to the fermentation broth as nitrogen source. The glycerol yield formed as a by–product during fermentation and at a maximum ethanol yield was 0.05g.g–1. The glucose yield obtained from sulphuric acid, base and ultrasonic wave pretreatment was 0.79g.g–1, 0.62g.g–1 and 0.62g.g–1 respectively. The glucose yield obtained after each type of pretreatment was higher than that obtained for unpretreated bagasse, which was 0.55g.g–1. Base pretreatment, ultrasonic wave pretreatment and unpretreated bagasse also contained fructose at the end of enzymatic hydrolysis. Base, sulphuric acid pretreatment disrupted the crystal structure of cellulose and increased the available surface, and therefore cellulose was easily accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis. Ultrasonic wave pretreatment showed potential in increasing the surface area for enzymatic hydrolysis but further investigations need to be done. From bagasse fermentation, 0.45g.g–1 – 0.39g.g–1 of ethanol per g of available fermentable sugar was obtained. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.