Influence of different NaOH pretreatment concentrations on saccharification and fermentation for bioethanol production from rice straw and rice husk (natural and powder)

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the different NaOH pretreatment concentrations (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00%) on enzymatic saccharification (with cellulase, and ${\beta}$-glucosidase) and fermentation (by Saccharomyces cerevisiaeKCCM 11304) for bioethanol production from rice straw and rice husk. Pretreatment of rice straw and rice husk were conducted under both natural and powder state to observe the potentiality of the biomass condition (natural and powder state). In this study, glucose and ethanol production were increased with the increase of NaOH percentage for both rice straw and rice husk (natural and powder state). For rice straw, the highest amount of glucose was obtained in 1.00% NaOH pretreatment (0.81 g $g^{-1}$ in a natural, and 0.63 g $g^{-1}$ in a powder state pretreatment). Similarly, for rice husk, the highest amount of glucose was obtained in 1.00% NaOH pretreatment (0.47 g $g^{-1}$ in a natural, and 0.46 g $g^{-1}$ in a powder state pretreatment). However, 0.75% NaOH pretreatment resulted in glucose yield near about 1.00% NaOH pretreatment for both rice straw and rice husk (natural and powder state). On the other hand, for rice straw, the highest amount of ethanol was obtained in 1.00% NaOH pretreatment (0.36 g $g^{-1}$ in a natural, and 0.31 g $g^{-1}$ in a powder state pretreatment). In addition, for rice husk, the highest amount of ethanol was also obtained in 1.00% NaOH pretreatment (0.24 g $g^{-1}$ in a natural, and 0.23 g $g^{-1}$ in a powder state pretreatment). Moreover, 0.75% NaOH pretreatment resulted in ethanol yield near about 1.00% NaOH pretreatment for both rice straw and rice husk (natural and powder state). It was confirmed that higher amount of NaOH use is cost effective. Moreover, higher amount of glucose and ethanol was observed when powder was prepared after pretreatment. So 0.75% NaOH pretreatment in a natural state is supposed to be suitable for enzymatic saccharification and fermentation for bioethanol production.