Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Empty Fruit Bunches of Palm for Bioethanol Production Using a Microbial Consortium of S. cerevisiae and T. harzianum

A simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) optimization process was carried out on pretreated empty fruit bunches (EFBs) by employing the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). EFBs were treated using sequential acid-alkali pretreatment analyzed physically a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The findings revealed that had changed morphology EFBs’ structure. Then, optimum combination of enzymes microbes for bioethanol production screened. Results showed S. cerevisiae T. harzianum (cellulase β-glucosidase) produced highest concentration with 11.76 g/L yield 0.29 g/g EFB 4% (w/v) at 30 °C 72 h. Next, central composite design (CCD) RSM employed to optimize SSF parameters time, temperature, pH, inoculum higher yield. analysis CCD predicted 9.72 (0.46 ethanol yield, 90.63% conversion efficiency) could be obtained h, °C, pH 4.8, 6.79% (v/v) 2% EFBs. conducted optimized conditions 9.65 bioethanol, 0.46 89.56% efficiency, which in close proximity model.