Physical and chemical assays of maize stalk fractions for ethanol production

Abstract

Maize stalk has been identified as a potential biomass for bio-ethanol production and has always been handled as a single biomass, though it is a heterogeneous mix of pith and rind fractions. Physical and chemical assays were conducted on each biomass fractions and compared to the single biomass for suitability for ethanol production. Moisture content and specific gravity including percentage composition of the fractions in the biomass were determined. Fibre characterisation was achieved using equal volumes of glacial acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide whilst chemical analyses which included compositional and ultimate analyses were determined using various standard procedures for each tests. The results of specific gravity obtained showed that the whole maize stalk has a specific gravity of 0.38, with pith and rind having values of 0.17 and 0.85, respectively. Fibre morphology is similar for both pith and rind fractions, and photomicrograph showed significantly less fibres in pith than the rind. Compositional analysis revealed the presence of 36.7% and 46.4% cellulose, 26.3% and 18.2% hemicellulose and 18.1% and 21.2% lignin for pith and rind fractions, respectively. The higher cellulose content of the maize stalk rind makes it a preferred fraction for biosynthesis.

Keywords

Biomass / Pith / Cellulose / Analyses / Lignin / Biosynthesis

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Funding

Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan(PG Scholar)

Petroleum Technology Development Fund(LSS PhD)