The Plackett-Burman model - an improved alternative to indentify the significant factors implied in the bioconversion of the complex cellulosic waste to ethanol

Abstract

Ethanol generation from lignocellulose materials provides an alternative energy-production system. The objectives of this study were to identify the significant factors involved in the biotechnological process of waste cellulosic materials reusing bioconversion in the ethanol. The bioconversion process was conducted in two steps. The first one is the cellulose hydrolysis with the Trichoderma reesei commercial cellulase and the fermentation of reducing sugar with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae selected yeast strain with fermentative potential. By using the Plackett-Burman design of experiments model the optimized levels of significant factors for both biochemical steps were established. Based on results, the factors with positive effect are the solid/ liquid ratio, the pH, the enzyme concentration, the inoculum size, the fermentation temperature.