Brosimum Alicastrum as a Novel Starch Source for Bioethanol Production

Edgar Olguin-Maciel, Alfonso Larqué-Saavedra, Daisy Pérez-Brito, Luis F. Barahona-Pérez, Liliana Alzate-Gaviria, Tanit Toledano-Thompson, Patricia E. Lappe-Oliveras, Emy G. Huchin-Poot and Raúl Tapia-Tussell
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Edgar Olguin-Maciel: Unidad de Energía Renovable, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, Km 5, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Yucatán, Mexico
Alfonso Larqué-Saavedra: Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Calle 43 No. 130 x 32 y 34 Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
Daisy Pérez-Brito: Laboratorio GeMBio, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Calle No. 130 43 x 32 y 34 Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
Luis F. Barahona-Pérez: Unidad de Energía Renovable, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, Km 5, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Yucatán, Mexico
Liliana Alzate-Gaviria: Unidad de Energía Renovable, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, Km 5, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Yucatán, Mexico
Tanit Toledano-Thompson: Unidad de Energía Renovable, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, Km 5, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Yucatán, Mexico
Patricia E. Lappe-Oliveras: Laboratorio de Micología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
Emy G. Huchin-Poot: Unidad de Energía Renovable, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, Km 5, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Yucatán, Mexico
Raúl Tapia-Tussell: Unidad de Energía Renovable, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán AC, Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, Km 5, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Yucatán, Mexico

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: Ramon ( Brosimum alicastrum ) is a forest tree native to the Mesoamerican region and the Caribbean. The flour obtained from Ramon seeds is 75% carbohydrate, of which 63% is starch, indicating its potential as a novel raw material for bioethanol production. The objective of this study was to produce ethanol from Ramon flour using a 90 °C thermic treatment for 30 min and a native yeast strain ( Candida tropicalis ) for the fermentation process. In addition, the structure of the flour and the effects of pretreatment were observed via scanning electron microscopy. The native yeast strain was superior to the commercial strain, fermenting 98.8% of the reducing sugar (RS) at 48 h and generating 31% more ethanol than commercial yeast. One ton of flour yielded 213 L of ethanol. These results suggest that Ramon flour is an excellent candidate for ethanol production. This is the first report on bioethanol production using the starch from Ramon seed flour and a native yeast strain isolated from this feedstock. This alternative material for bioethanol production minimizes the competition between food and energy production, a priority for Mexico that has led to significant changes in public policies to enhance the development of renewable energies.

Keywords: bioethanol production; starch; Brosimum alicastrum; Candida tropicalis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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