COCONUT PIT AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF PRODUCING RENEWABLE MATERIAL (BIOETHANOL)
J. O. ONAIFO
Department of Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria
E. U. IKHUORIA *
Department of Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria
S. O. OMOROGBE
Product Development Laboratory, Department of Research Operations, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 1049, Benin-City, Nigeria
O. G. AGBONLAHOR
Department of Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria
I. H. IFIJEN
Department of Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The production of bioethanol from coconut pith by sulphuric acid hydrolysis in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined. The fuel properties of the bioethanol were determined using standard methods. The results obtained shows that; boiling point was 78.8°C, density, 803.3 kgm-3, API gravity 43.7°API, octane number [RON131, MON119], flash point 15°C, ignition point 41°C, pour point -36°C and viscosity 1.62cSt. These fuel properties were found to compare favourably with existing standard and commercially available bioethanol.
Keywords: Coconut pith, bioethanol, acid hydrolysis, fuel properties