The use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and there is a consequent need to resort to clean and renewable fuels. The production of biofuel from plant is becoming an attractive alternative to non-renewable fossil energy sources. Sweet sorghum is a very good alternative for bio-ethanol production to meet the energy needs of the country. Sweet sorghum is drought resistant, water logging resistant and saline–alkaline tolerant. Growing sweet sorghum for ethanol production is relatively easy and economical and ethanol produced from sweet sorghum is eco-friendly.the objective of this study was determine characterize of sweet sorghum juice, ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice at optimized fermentation conditions and the effect of pH, yeast concentration (saccharomyces cerevisiae ) and the time of fermentation on the ethanol yield and ethanol concentration. Standard methods were used for analysis sucrose, glucose and fructose content by HPLC method. The total titratable acidity was determined by titration against 0.1N NaOH to a phenolphthalein end point, the pH using a pH meter, while moisture, protein and ash content by AOAC methods. GC methods with external standards were used to qualitatively and quantitatively determine ethanol concentrations in final bio-ethanol for three samples 12and 3. The fructose, glucose and sucrose concentration averaged 37.84, 39.5 and 120.16g/l respectively, moisture content is 81.6%,ash content is 0.53%, protein content is 1.6% , total titratable acidity is 0.25% as malic acid and pH is 5.13. The initial pH of the fermented juice decrease with increase in time from 5.13 to 3.9 at the end fermentation . Ethanol yield increase with increase in time from 5.9% to 8.5% for 24 to 72 hours. Ethanol concentration for three sample 12and 3 was 44% 38.2% and 39.2% respectively. Obtained high ethanol yield and high final bio-ethanol concentration for bio- ethanol yield was 8.5% and 44% respectively produce at (pH 5, 2% yeast concentration and 30±1°C for 72 hours).

Full text: IJEIR_2432_FINAL.pdf