Preliminary Assessment of African Star Apple Seeds (Chrysophyllum Albidum) as Potential Feedstock for Production of Bioethanol

Abstract

Production of Bioethanol from renewable feedstocks has gained considerable scientific attention since they are able to supply energy and they serve as alternative fuels. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the production of Bioethanol from African star apple seeds. The mildly pre-treated seeds were fermented for bioethanol production by wild microbes. These organisms responsible for the fermentation were then isolated and characterized using microbiological techniques. Proximate analysis was carried out on the fermented milled seed during the fermentation period. High percentage carbohydrate, fat, and protein were obtained. Bioethanol produced was comparable to conventional ethanol physically and chemically. Specifically noticeable, flash point (12.5 ℃), refractive index (1.364), and relative density (0.762 g/cm3 ). The different wild microorganisms isolated during the fermentation period were Bacillus brevis, Bacillus cereus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium verruculosum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rossiae, Serratia marcescens, Absidia Spinosa, Rhizopus stolonifer, Pediococcus damnosus, Klebsiella planticola Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium culmorum. Although the mild pretreatment was ineffective for releasing fermentable sugar needed for bioethanol production, these findings demonstrate that Chrysophyllum albidum seeds which are usually wild can be an excellent renewable feedstock of fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels such as Bioethanol with suitable pretreatment techniques.