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Box–Behnken Design-Based Optimization of the Saccharification of Primary Paper-Mill Sludge as a Renewable Raw Material for Bioethanol Production

Author

Listed:
  • Vasudeo Zambare

    (R&D Department, Om Biotechnologies, Nashik 422 011, India
    Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia)

  • Samuel Jacob

    (Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, India)

  • Mohd Fadhil Md. Din

    (Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
    Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia)

  • Mohanadoss Ponraj

    (Department of Biological Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Riverside, Kitwe 21692, Zambia)

Abstract

In this study, the primary paper-mill sludge characterized as containing 51% glucan was used to optimize the enzymatic saccharification process for the production of bioethanol using a Box–Behnken design (BBD). Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG-4000) surfactant-assisted enzymatic saccharification of dried primary sludge (DPS) showed a 12.8% improvement in saccharification efficiency. There was a statistically significant effect of solid enzyme loading and saccharification time on the enzymatic saccharification of DPS at a 95% confidence level ( p < 0.05). The optimum levels of 10.4% w / w DPS solid loading, 2.03% enzyme loading (10 FPU g/DPS), and 1% ( w / w DPS) PEG-4000 loading for a saccharification efficiency of 57.66% were validated experimentally and found to be non-significant with regard to the lack of fit with the predicted saccharification efficiency of 56.76%. Furthermore, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented the saccharified sugars into ethanol (9.35 g/L) with a sugar-to-ethanol conversion yield of 91.6% compared with the theoretical maximum. Therefore, DPS is a more suitable renewable biomass for determining the presence of fermentable sugar and for the production of ethanol.

Suggested Citation

  • Vasudeo Zambare & Samuel Jacob & Mohd Fadhil Md. Din & Mohanadoss Ponraj, 2023. "Box–Behnken Design-Based Optimization of the Saccharification of Primary Paper-Mill Sludge as a Renewable Raw Material for Bioethanol Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10740-:d:1189391
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Foley, Aoife M. & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the pulp and paper industry: A critical and systematic review of sociotechnical developments and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Alkasrawi, Malek & Al-Othman, Amani & Tawalbeh, Muhammad & Doncan, Shona & Gurram, Raghu & Singsaas, Eric & Almomani, Fares & Al-Asheh, Sameer, 2021. "A novel technique of paper mill sludge conversion to bioethanol toward sustainable energy production: Effect of fiber recovery on the saccharification hydrolysis and fermentation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    3. Shona M. Duncan & Malek Alkasrawi & Raghu Gurram & Fares Almomani & Amy E Wiberley-Bradford & Eric Singsaas, 2020. "Paper Mill Sludge as a Source of Sugars for Use in the Production of Bioethanol and Isoprene," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-12, September.
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    1. Banboukian, A. & Kamath, D. & Nimbalkar, S. & Cresko, J., 2026. "Sustainability perspectives of integrated pulp and paper biorefineries – A systematic critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PE).

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