Improvement of fermentable sugar for enhanced bioethanol production from Amorphophallus spp. tuber obtained from northern Thailand

This study aims to produce a significant quantity of fermentable sugars from tubers sourced from northern Thailand to boost bioethanol production. Bioethanol production from Amorphophallus spp. tubers was compared using biological and chemical approaches. The tubers were sliced into small pieces (1–2 cm), dried in a solar oven, and powdered before hydrolyzing with cellulase enzymes. The results revealed the fermentable sugar content of Amorphophallus spp. tuber increased from 2.6 g/L–19.01 g/L after enzymatic hydrolysis. Furthermore, under the ideal condition, the total sugar concentration was 33.22 g/L. Enzymes help to speed up the hydrolysis process, and biological methods are also less expensive and more ecologically friendly than chemical equivalents. After the alcoholic fermentation, the highest ethanol content was obtained, 8.68 ± 0.91 g/L, using S. cerevisiae for 48 h. Konjac receives little attention in the biofuel industry due to its irritating nature to the mouth and throat when swallowed, implying that competition between the fuel and food sectors is lower than for other feedstocks such as cassava and corn. Improved fermentable sugars may be used in the near future for bioethanol production to address the worldwide issue of declining fossil fuel consumption.