Cellulose hydrolysis process of red dragon fruit pell (Hylocereus costaricensis) as candidate for bioethanol production

• Main Authors: Ratnadewi, Anak Agung Istri, Anggita, Indras Dwi, Safitri, Rosa, Safitri, Firda Marta, Fachri, Boy Arief
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Alternative energy; Alternative energy sources; Biofuels; Carbohydrates; Cellulose; Ethanol; Fermentation; Glucose; Hydrolysis; Sulfuric acid
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0131387

Red dragon fruit peel can be used as a source of energy (bioethanol) because it contained carbohydrates like cellulose. The process of making bioethanol is carried out through three steps: delignification, hydrolysis, and fermentation. The results of red dragon fruit peel delignification were analyzed quantitatively by FTIR, and the analysis showed that the results of delignification were cellulose. Cellulose was converted into glucose using the hydrolysis method with sulfuric acid and continued with bioethanol production by fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The parameter used in this study was the concentration of sulfuric acid used during the hydrolysis process (0.5-2.0 M) to produce the optimum glucose concentration. The quantitative test of glucose results showed that a mixture containing 2.0 M sulfuric acid produced the highest glucose value (0.05 g/mL). The 3300 cm−1 peak in the FTIR spectrum shows an OH group and the absorption of C-O in the absorption region around 1095 cm-1 that predicts the formation of ethanol from the fermentation process. This research was aimed at obtaining alternative energy sources to overcome the scarcity of energy.