Study on production of bioethanol from onion peel

Abstract

The depletion of natural fuels and environmental concerns have led to a rising demand for renewable and sustainable energy sources. Bioethanol, derived from biomass such as bio waste, has significant attention as a potential alternative fuel. This project focuses on the production of bioethanol from onion peel waste, a readily available agricultural byproduct with limited utilization . The study begins with the collection and characterization of onion peel waste to determine its chemical composition and suitability for bioethanol production. Various pretreatment methods, including acid hydrolysis, are explored to enhance the accessibility of sugar fractions within the onion peels. Subsequently, fermentation using selected yeast strains is used to convert the available sugars into ethyl alcohol. Optimization of process parameters such as pH, temperature, inoculum size, and fermentation time is carried out to maximize ethanol yield. The ethanol produced is then subjected to purification processes, including distillation, to obtain high-purity bioethanol suitable for use as a fuel additive. Finally optimizing all the five parameters it is found that Fermentation time of 48 hr , temperature 30 ° C, inoculum concentration 10%, pH 4.5 , and substrate concentration 15% yield maximum amount of ethanol ( 4.839% v/v ). The economic feasibility and environmental impact of ethanol production from onion peel waste are also evaluated. The project aims to contribute to sustainable waste management practices while providing a potential source of renewable energy. This research represents a significant step towards utilizing agricultural waste streams to produce bioethanol, thus reducing greenhouse components emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.