REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT

FOR FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION
PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY
ZAMBOANGA RESEARCH CENTER
San Ramon, Zamboanga City 7000 Tel. /Fax No. (062) 982-0302
P.O. Box 356 TIN: 000724616
E-mail:

NON-FOOD PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

COCONUT-BASED BIOMASS AND BIOFUELS LABORATORY

MONTHLY ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT
FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST2018

1. AR/NFPD - 11/01. Utilization of Coconut-based Biomass for Bioethanol Production. (N.J.
Melencion and M.M. Melencion).

1a. Product development of coconut ethanol

The product development of fortified (15% ethanol) and sparkling coconut wines were
continued using two Saccharomyces strains – S.
cerevisiae and S. bayanus. Saccharomyces
chevalieri, a yeast strain reportedly of high
fermentative power, will be tested next month.

Aged stocks of bahalina were tested for ethanol
contents and pH (Table 1.) properties. Compared
to ethanol contents of anaerobically-fermented
coconut wine, it is apparent that traditional Photo No.1. Fortified and sparkling
coconut wines are being aged
method of producing bahalina can be improved
using recycled commercial liquor
by simply restricting oxygen in the fermentation bottles.
broth and with supplimentation of innoculum (S.
cerevisiae).

Table 1. Ethanol contents of bahalina trials under different stages of ageing.

Ageing Ageing Duration Ethanol Content
Trial No. pH
Started to testing (%)

1 December 08, 2016 19 months & 24 days 8.75 3.51
2 March 20, 2017 16 months & 12 days 8.19 3.36
3 November 25, 2016 20 months & 6 days 7.17 3.35

Anearobic Jul-18 4 days 9.6
fermentation

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1b. Utilization of Coconut-Based Lignocellulosic Biomass for Ethanol Production.

Bacterial cellulose mats (BCM) produced by Gluconoacetobacter xylinus were harvested from
waste coconut water (from mature nuts) for subsequent acid hydrolysis, neutralization, and
ethanol fermentation (Photos 2, 3, & 4).

Photos 2, 3 & 4. Bacterial cellulose (macerated by food blender) (left),
BC hyrolyzates (center), & 1-day fermentation of BC
hydrolyzates (right).

BCMs were macerated using a food blender. Hydrolysis of BCM was conducted using sulfuric
acid under pressure and high temperature for one (1) hour using a stainless steel pressure
cooker. Hydrolysates were filtered and were neutralized to pH 7 using sodium bicarbonate
(baking soda) and were subsequently inoculated with Saccharomyces bayanus for ethanol
fermentation. The result of the initial fermentation, however, showed that S. bayanus failed
to ferment the resulting hydrolysates, presumably due to the presence of high concentration
of toxic side-products during hydrolysis. Subsequent trials will be conducted later to
characterize the hydrolysates, improve its fermentability, and the use of enzymes to hydrolyze
the bacterial cellulose (enzymatic hydrolysis).

2. Commercialization of Coco-coir Processing Technologies and Machineries in CALABARZON.

2a. Product development from coir-cocoshell-acrylic. (N.J. Melencion & M.M. Melencion)

Currently, funds for this project are already depleted.

2b. Coconut-based Biodegradable Bacterial Cellulose Product Development (N.J. Melencion and
M.M. Melencion).

The production of microbial cellulose from waste coconut water using Gluconoacetobacter
xylinus was likewise continued. Several trials, however, failed to produce the necessary
bacterial cellulosic mats due to high contamination. In order to minimize bacterial
contamination, cocowater is now subjected to stringent sterilization using pressurized
saturated steam at 121 0C for 20 minutes using the 300L capacity autoclave (in lieu of
pasteurization). The most recent production batch is now free from contamination.

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3. Coconut Sap Concentrator (N.J. Melencion)

This project was temporarily halted as no fabricator is available to construct the envisioned design
for this project.

Submitted by:

NEIL J. MELENCION, PhD.

Senior Science Research Specialist

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