RESEARCH ARTICLE

Copyright 2017 American Scientific Publishers Advanced Science Letters

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Printed in the United States of America
Vol. 23, 22652267, 2017

The Production of Bioethanol from Nira Aren

(Arenga pinnata Merr) Using the Biocatalyst of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
NettiHerlina1 , NurhasmawatyPohan2 , and Meilani M. Manurung2
1
Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia

The purpose of this study was to produce alternative fuel of bioethanol from Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata Merr)
as an additive to produce a gasohol which see the influence and volume of starter on yield and concentration of
bioethanol produced from Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata Merr). Biocatalyst used was Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.
Observed variables were volume of starter and agitation in anaerobic fermentation. The experiment started
with preparation of a starter followed by fermentation process. The product obtained from distillation process at
temperature of 88  C. The results showed that the higher volume of starter and agitation speed, the concen-
tration and yield of bioethanol produced will be higher until it reaches the highest point. If it exceed that point,
the changes of agitation and the addition of starter does not increase the concentration and yield of ethanol
produced. The highest concentrationDelivered
and yieldby
of Ingenta
bioethanolto: Netti Herlina
produced in this study amounted to 47.618% (v/v)
and 48.1411% is obtained IP:at202.0.107.126 On:
35% volume starter Mon,
with 28 Aug
agitation of 1002017
rpm. 06:38:17
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers
Keywords: Bioethanol, Fermentation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata).

1. INTRODUCTION
Bioethanol or ethyl alcohol (C2 H5 OH)1 as the fuel is environ-
mentally friendly and renewable also become the worlds atten-
tion today2 this is evidenced by the increasing production of
bioethanol from year to year, which is 17.3 million liters in
2000, an increase to 46 million liters in 2007, and is expected
to increase dramatically in 2020 that as many as 125 million
liters.3 The main raw material for bioethanol production by fer-
mentation process are basically derived from glucose, starch4
and lignocellulosic.5 Excess raw material liquid is because the
sap is a sugar solution which can directly start the fermentation
process so as to shorten the stages of production of ethanol.6
The production of bioethanol made from sugar and starch is fer-
mented with the help of microbes Saccharomyces cerevisiae is
the most common method and is often used in the industry.3
Saccharomyces cerevisiaeis used to break down glucose in the
fermentation process7 to produce a high ethanol content.8
Sweet sap obtained from tapping the sap. Sap tapped from the
cob male flower can produce 812 liters per day to 2 times tap-
ping. Fresh sap contains sugar 1114%, ash 0.04%, 0.2% protein
and 0.02% fat content.9 In a simple process of fermentation is
the process of converting 1 mole of glucose to 2 moles of ethanol
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
and 2 moles of carbon dioxide with the help of enzymes. The
chemical reaction is as follows:10
C6 H12 O6 2C2 H5 OH + 2CO2
2. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
2.1. Research Methodology
The materials used in this study is a sugar palm (Arenga pin-
nata), NPK, and S. cerevisiae. The equipment used in this study
is erlenmeyer, glass beaker, hemosytometer, refractometer, auto-
clave, three neck flask, hot plate, and agitator.
2.2. Research Procedure
2.2.1. Procedure Making Starter
As a first step, sterilized all the equipment to be used with the
autoclave for 15 minutes at 121  C. Fresh sap is pasteurized at
a temperature of 80  C. Sap was cooled to room temperature
and then put one oasis S. cerevisiae and stir until evenly dis-
tributed. Starter allowed to stand at ambient conditions for 48
hours. Furthermore, the calculation of the number S. cerevisiae
with hemosytometer.
2.3. Fermentation Procedures
All equipment to be used sterilized by autoclave for 15 min-
utes at 121  C. Fresh sugar palm is pasteurized at a temperature

Adv. Sci. Lett. Vol. 23, No. 3, 2017 1936-6612/2017/23/2265/003 doi:10.1166/asl.2017.8686 2265
RESEARCH ARTICLE Adv. Sci. Lett. 23, 22652267, 2017

of 80  C. Sugar content of sap analyzed with a refractometer.

Sugar palm sap is mixed with a solution of a starter as much as
15% (v/v) of the total volume of the mixture of 850 ml. NPK
added 0.4% (m/m) into the solution. The mixture is stirred in the
rotary shaker with agitation speed of 75 rpm for 24 hours at room
temperature. Fermented inserted into the distillation apparatus,
operating conditions is set at a temperature of 88  C. Distillate
at capacity with erlenmeyer and measured its volume. Distillate
samples were taken for analysis.
Fig. 2. Results of analysis of ethanol oxidation with potassium dichromate.

2.4. Product Analysis

Analysis of the bioethanol produced include analysis of oxida-
tion with potassium dichromate (K2 Cr2 O7 , the characteristics of
the Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR), the calculation of the
density, content of bioethanol, specific gravity (sg), API Gravity
and calorific value.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Characterization FTIR (Fourier Transform
Infra Red) Ethanol
Figure 1 show the characterization FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra
Red) ethanol from sugar palm is made to identify the functional
groups of compounds of ethanol. So from FTIR analysis results
Fig. 3. Effect volume starter and agitation against bioethanol concentration.
we can conclude that the sample contains ethanol.

3.2. Result Analysis of Ethanol Oxidation with 3.3. Effect of Agitation Against Volume
Potassium Dichromate (K2 Cr2 O7 ) Starter and Bioethanol Concentration
This analysis was conducted to determine theDelivered
presence of by Ingenta to: Netti Herlina
ethanol One indicator of 06:38:17
the success of the fermentation process is the
IP:in 202.0.107.126
in the sample. The presence of ethanol the samples testedOn:
usingMon,concentration
28 Aug 2017
Copyright: American Scientific of ethanol produced. Subsequently distilled fer-
Publishers
potassium dichromate. The principle used is a redox reaction mented products. The distillate is then analyzed its bioethanol
between ethanol with potassium dichromate in acidic conditions. content by calculating the density of which is interpolated in rela-
This reaction is characterized by changes in the initial solution is tion density conversion and ethanol levels.23 Densitation ties and
orange to blue. Figure 2 shows the potassium dichromate color levels of ethanol, made curve bioethanol content (% v/v) versus
change before and after the addition of bioethanol. volume starter (% v/v). The curve can be seen in Figure 3.

3.4. Effect of Volume Starter and Agitation

Against Ethanol Yield
Efficient use of the substrate to produce ethanol is expressed in
bioethanol yield. The higher the yield, the more efficient fer-
mentation process.28 The influence of the volume of starter and
agitation to yield bioethanol can be seen in Figure 4.

Fig. 1. FTIR spectrum (fourier transform infrared) ethanol from sugar palm. Fig. 4. Effect volume starter and agitation against ethanol yield.

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Adv. Sci. Lett. 23, 22652267, 2017 RESEARCH ARTICLE

4. CONCLUSION References and Notes

In conclusion, this study shows that the volume of starter and
agitation effect in the fermentation process. Where the higher
volume of starter and then the agitation speed and yield levels
of bioethanol produced will be higher until it reaches its highest
point. If exceed that point the addition of starter volume and
speed of agitation and yield did not increase levels of bioethanol
produced. And yield the highest levels of bioethanol produced
in this study of 47.618 (% v/v) were obtained in 35% starter
volume with agitation of 100 rpm. The highest yield is derived
in the same conditions, that is 48.1411%.
Acknowledgments: The authors would like to express
heartfelt thanks to the Professor Dr. ErmanMunir, M.Sc. as a
Chairman from Department of Research University of Sumatera
Utara.
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Received: 12 October 2016. Accepted: 2 November 2016.

Delivered by Ingenta to: Netti Herlina

IP: 202.0.107.126 On: Mon, 28 Aug 2017 06:38:17
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers

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