Abstract:
The production and applications of bioethanol from Ipomea batatas (sweet potatoes) and
Colocasia antiquorium (white cocoyam) as alternative domestic cooking fuel to replace
conventional fossil cooking fuel was investigated.1kg each of the feedstock were washed,
peeled and grated using mechanical grater and gelatinized. The gelatinized sample was
subjected to a two stage enzyme hydrolysis using Industrial enzymes namely: alpha amylase
for liquefaction and amylogucosidase for saccaharification to produce fermentable sugar. The
hydrolysed sample was then fermented with industrial baker’s yeast Saccaromyces cerevisea
which yielded 136 L/ton and 134 L/ton of ethanol for Ipomea Batatas and Colocasia
antiquorium respectively after 3days. The FT-IR spectra, flash point (400C and 420C),
calorific value (561.06 Jg-1 and 559.14 Jg-1), specific gravity (0.8113 and 0.8136) and
refractive index (1.3608 and 1.3610) of the product produced from cocoyam and sweet
potatoes respectively showed that the alcohol produced was ethanol when compared with the
standard values. The suitability of these as alternative domestic cooking fuels was tested in a
spirit lamp and result showed that the fuels were promising. In addition the synthesized ethyl
benzoate derivative of the bioethanol proved that the bioethanol from these plant crops will be
very useful in laboratory analysis. The bioethanol was also used to produce liquid air
freshener and perfume to confirm its industrial utilization.
