Bioethanol fermentation from kitchen waste using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Bioethanol obtained from microbial fermentation can replace conventional fossil fuels to satisfy energy demand. In this respect, a fermenting isolate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, obtained from date juice, was grown in YEPD medium as a part of a previous published research project. In this study, the isolate was tentatively characterized for alcoholic fermentation in organic kitchen waste medium, prepared from discarded fruit and vegetable peels. Fermentation in shaking condition resulted in the production of 7.3% (v/v) ethanol after 48 h, after which the pH of the medium increased slightly in response. Further research should be conducted to assess the potential of kitchen waste as a raw material in ethanol fermentation.