Suitability of Groundnut Shells for Bioethanol Production using Saccharomyces cerevisae

Groundnut shells were milled to 100 microns and bioethanol was produced using acid hydrolysis and batch fermentation process. Acid hydrolysis was achieved using 5% sulphuric acid solution at 900C for 2 hours. Fermentation was proceeded after sterilization of wort in an autoclave at 1150C for 30 minutes after which the mixture was pitched with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) and incubated for three days. A bioethanol yield of 27.5% was obtained from groundnut shells with an energy value of 14MJ/KG. This biofuel produced had a purity of 90.62%v/v which is within the range of acceptable commercial grade and proves groundnut shells could be used as a suitable feedstock for bioethanol production.