Ethanol production from hydrolysed agricultural wastes using mixed culture of Zymomonas mobilis and Candida tropicalis

Acid, alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis of agricultural crop wastes were compared for yields of total reducing sugars with the hydrolysates being evaluated for ethanol production using a mixed culture of Zymomonas mobilis and Candida tropicalis. Acid hydrolysis of fruit and vegetable residues gave 49-84 g reducing sugars l(-1) and 29-32 g ethanol l(-1) was then obtained. Alkaline hydrolysis did not give significant amount of reducing sugars. Enzymatic hydrolysis of fruit and vegetable residues yielded 36-123 g reducing sugars l(-1) and 11-54 g ethanol l(-1).