PRODUCTION OF BIOETHANOL FROM RICE HUSKS: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
Abstract
The increasing global demand for renewable energy, coupled with the urgent need to manage agricultural waste, has driven research into second-generation bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. Rice husks, an abundant byproduct of rice milling, represent a promising feedstock due to their high cellulose and hemicellulose content. However, their recalcitrant structure, primarily due to lignin and silica, necessitates efficient pretreatment to enhance enzymatic saccharification and fermentation. This project investigates the optimization of bioethanol production from rice husks using alkaline pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The project highlights the environmental and economic benefits of valorizing rice husks into bioethanol, contributing to waste reduction and sustainable energy production. By integrating process optimization with techno-economic analysis, this work aims to provide a viable pathway for large-scale bioethanol production from underutilized agricultural residues.
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