Sustainable production of cellulosic ethanol from pretreated sugarcane bagasse using ruminal fluids extracted from ruminating animals

Increase in global temperatures, over dependence and depletion of fossil fuels to fulfill the human needs have forced the mankind to produce sustainable bioenergy. Plant biomass which contains lignocellulose polymers constitutes the most abundant components on the earth’s surface. Naturally, enormous amounts of cellulose are digested by the cattle and this process of digestion is solely supported by microorganisms residing in its rumen. In our current project, we have considered sugarcane bagasse to produce cellulosic ethanol using ruminal fluids. Sugarcane bagasse is the waste obtained after sugar production which is currently being burned for energy or dumped in landfills. Initially, we have pretreated sugarcane bagasse using specific pretreatment methods. Pretreated sugarcane bagasse is further subjected to enzyme hydrolysis under standard and optimized fermentation methods using the ruminal fluid samples obtained from Brazilian cows. This ecofriendly and economically beneficial method of cellulosic ethanol production would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Faculty Supervisor:

Wensheng Qin

Student:

Partner:

Federal University of Parana

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

Lakehead University

Program:

Globalink Research Award