Abstract

ZAMORA-HERNANDEZ, Teresa et al. Practical demonstrations of challenges and opportunities on first and second generation bioethanol production using tropical crops. Educ. quím [online]. 2014, vol.25, n.2, pp.122-127. ISSN 0187-893X.

Modern society depends on non-renewable energy sources like petroleum hydrocarbons for transportation fuel. There is currently a great interest in developing new sources and processes for biofuels. Ethanol is a promising biofuel obtained from carbohydrate fermentation by baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In this work, we present a set of teaching lab sessions where students prepare fermentations and produce first (free sugars and starch) and second (cellulose) generation bioethanol. Several carbohydrate sources produced in the tropical regions of Mexico and the Americas were tested, for example, juice (pineapple, sugarcane, grape and apple), tuberous crops (cassava, potato and sweet potato) and cellulose (sugarcane leaves and recycled paper). Sessions were developed as supervised research projects and students learnt and discussed the principles and challenges of ethanol biofuel production.

Keywords : bioethanol; biofuel; saccharification; fermentation; Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

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