Journal of Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN0976-7916

Research Article
STUDIES ON GENERATION OF POWER ALCOHOL AS A
NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCE FROM
AQUATIC MACROPHYTES- A CRITICAL REVIEW
A. D. Bhetalu 1*, Dr. S. S. Patil 2, Dr. N. W. Ingole 3

Address for Correspondence

1
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, IBSS College of Engineering, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
2
Director, Student Welfare, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
3
Principal, IBSS College of Engineering, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a critical review of need for utilization of biomass, social, economical and environmental point of views
and impacts of utilization of biomass in Indian context. Due to the huge population in India, the consumption of fuel is also
massive which is creating a lasting impact on our National economy. However, there are certain possibilities which could
well present the opportunities of creating National Energy security through the proper use of what is known as noxious
weed. However, the large scale production still needs to be scaled down to cost effectiveness.
KEYWORDS: Water Hyacinth, Eradication, Biomass, Unconventional Energy, Power Alcohol
1.0 INTRODUCTION: derived transportation fuels to help address energy
India is the fifth largest primary energy consumer and cost, energy security and global warming concerns
fourth largest petroleum consumer in the world. associated with liquid fossil fuels.
Growing population and rapid socio-economic Biofuels are going to play an extremely important
development has spurred an increase in energy role in meeting India’s energy needs. The country's
consumption across all major sectors of the Indian energy demand is expected to grow at an annual rate
economy. Given limited domestic energy resources, of 4.8 per cent over the next couple of decades. Most
most energy requirements are met through imports. of the energy requirements are currently satisfied by
Provisional estimates indicate that India meets more fossil fuels – coal, petroleum-based products and
than 76 percent of its petroleum demand through natural gas. Domestic production of crude oil can
imports. Import expenditures on petroleum products only fulfill 25-30 per cent of national consumption.
in fiscal 2009/10 is over $83 billion, up four times the (Report of the Working Group, Tenth Plan, Planning
value in fiscal 2003/04. Consequently, Indian Commission, Government of India.)
petroleum consumption has also gone up from 84 Ethanol, currently produced in India by the
million tons in Indian Fiscal Year (IFY) 1997/98 to fermentation of sugarcane molasses, is an excellent
134 million tons in IFY 2008/09 and is grown over biofuel and can be blended with petrol. Likewise,
136 million tons in IFY 2009/10. (Annual report, biodiesel which can be manufactured by the
GoI, 2009-10) transesterification of vegetable oil can be blended
Global depletion of energy supply due to the with diesel to reduce the consumption of diesel from
continuing over-utilization is being a major problem petroleum. Ethanol and biodiesel are gaining
of the present and future world community. It is acceptance worldwide as good substitutes for oil in
estimated that the fossil fuels will be running out by the transportation sector.
the next few decades (Bentley, 2002; Cavallo, 2002), (UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2005/1.)
therefore, attention has currently been dedicated to 2.0 MACROPHYTES AS UNCONVENTIOANL
the conversion of biomass into fuel ethanol. ENERGY SOURCE:
Tremendous progress has been made technologically Bioethanol is being considered as a potential liquid
in the last few years in the area of biofuel production, fuel due to the limited amount of natural resources.
fuelled by ever increasing price and shortage of fossil Cellulose biomass is also being investigated as a
fuel. There are also concerns about global climate potential substrate for bioethanol production.
change and severe food shortage. Biomass is the least (Masami, Usui and Urano, 2008). The water hyacinth
expensive and most globally available resource. (Eichhornia crassipes) is a native plant of Brazil but
Therefore, priority should be shifted towards utilizing has been naturalized in many tropical /temperate
biomass, leaving aside food for human consumption. countries. It is regarded as a nuisance because of its
New methodologies of fermentation and hydrolysis remarkable growth rate. Although the water hyacinth
of biomass have become available, along with is considered by many as an invasive pest, it could be
development of transgenic varieties amenable for useful as a source of biomass, because it is abundant
biofuel production. Now is the time to look for new and easy to cultivate. Previous studies have addressed
material sources of biofuels, which are naturally the potential use of water hyacinth as biomass
amenable to processing during extraction of biofuel, (Abraham and Kurup, 1996; Nigam, 2002; Rahman
thus reducing costs drastically and substituting fossil et al., 1986) or as a way to improve water quality
fuels in all aspects. Biofuels are drawing increasing because of its capacity to absorb heavy metals and
attention worldwide as substitutes for petroleum- organic compounds (Simeon et al., 1985, 1987;

JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17

 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
Ingole and Bhole, 2002). These studies indicate that
water hyacinth is a promising plant for ethanol
production.
2.1 Utilization of Aquatic Weeds for
Unconventional Energy:
Water hyacinth is low in lignin content (10%) and
contains high amounts of cellulose (20%) and
hemicellulose (33%) (Bolenz et al. 1990, Poddar et
al. 1991, Gressel 2008). A typical biomass from land
plants can have 30-50% cellulose, 20-40%
hemicellulose and 15-30% lignins. In plants, lignin
(composed of phenylpropanoid groups) acts as a
polymer around the hemicellulose microfibrils,
binding the cellulose molecules together and
protecting them against chemical degradation. Lignin
cannot be converted into sugars. Thus, it is not
practical in biofuel production. Their degradation is a
high energy process. Water hyacinth has low lignin,
which means the cellulose and hemicellulose are
more easily converted to fermentable sugar thus
resulting in enormous amount of utilizable biomass
for the biofuel industry Masami et al. (2008)
suggested a new method of extracting ethanol by
saccharification with diluted sulfuric acid, and
hastening the process by using yeast.
Further, water hyacinth grows at a very rapid pace
and contains very high nitrogen content. The mixture
of cow dung and water hyacinth slurry has proven to
produce more biogas than when used alone (El-
Shinnawi et al. 1989). The left-over slurry or sludge
can be transported as liquid fertilizer. They can
practically grow in any habitat and requires little to
no maintenance, but they prefer to grow in warm
climate. Further, they can be used to purify water
bodies containing high amounts of heavy metal
contamination. The biomass can be used to produce
biogas and the byproducts can be used as organic
manure or for producing bioethanol by further
decomposition of fermentable saccharides. In
addition, aquatic plants do not compete with land
resources used in arable food crop cultivation and
thus are an incentive factor when it comes to biofuel
production. For the past few years, there have been
reports of genetic engineering of microorganisms,
which can increase ethanol production from
hemicellulose by fermenting it into oligosaccharides
(Dien et al. 2003; Mishima et al. 2008). Mishima et
al. (2008) also found that bioethanol generating
capacity of water hyacinth can be compared to that
obtained from agricultural waste, thus is a potential
new crop for biofuel production and an employment
generating industry. (Anjanabha Bhattacharya. et al.
2010).
Water hyacinth has long been seen as an invasive
species all over the globe and considerable amount of
resources have been spent for their control. However,
they have certain qualities which can be utilized to
produce biofuels (both bioethanol to power vehicles
JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17
E-ISSN0976-7916
and motors, biogas to generate electricity) as the
plants are low in lignin content and have rapid
growth rate. This could be of potential interest in
south-east Asian countries where this species tends to
occur so frequently. Besides they do not compete
with food crops for land diversification. They tend to
grow well in water bodies even with low nutrient
regime and can be easily mechanically harvested.
There are so many alternative uses of these plant
species and time has come to look at the plant from a
different viewpoint and utilize their potential as much
as possible. This tends to generate ample
employment particularly in developing world. And
the growth rate is so tremendous that there will be no
dearth of biomass in the long run. Further, they do
not compete with arable crops in term of land
resources and needs little to any care to grow them.
3.0 PROBLEMS POSED BY NOXIUS WEEDS.:
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes) is a fast
growing perennial aquatic plant widely distributed
throughout the world (Malik, 2007). This tropical
plant can cause infestations over large areas of water
resources and consequently lead to series of
problems. These include reduction of biodiversity,
blockage of rivers and drainage system, depletion of
dissolved oxygen, alteration on water chemistry, and
involvement in environmental pollution.
Problems posed by Water hyacinth have been
extensively reviewed by Gopal and Sharma (1981)
and Jayanth (1987). They are summarized as follows:
1. It impedes the flow of water in irrigation
systems. 40-95% reduction has been
reported.
2. Prevents the free movement of boats and
other navigation vessels.
3. It interferes with hydroelectric power
generation.
4. It reduces the volume of available
freshwater by increasing losses through
evapotraspiration.
5. It impairs the quality of water. The plant
cover imparts obnoxious smell, colour and
suspended particulate matter to water,
making it unfit for human consumption.
6. Dense growth of water hyacinth causes
serious disruptions to other aquatic life like
pliytop.lankton and fish. According to Gopal
and Sharma (1981), in West Bengal about
45 million kg of fish were annually lost due
to water hyacinth in early 1950s.
7. It provides suitable habitat or food or both
for niolluscan and insect vectors of diseases
like schistosomiasis and malaria. It gives
shelter to adults and also prevents mosquito
larvae and adults from being preyed upon by
their natural predators like insects, frogs,
fishes etc.
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
8. The rate of organic production by water
hyacinth is so high that it leads to silting and
gradual drying up of water bodies.
On one hand, attempts have been geared towards the
use of biological, chemical and mechanical
approaches for preventing the spread of, or
eradication of, water hyacinth. On the other hand,
much attention has been focused on the potentials
and constrains of using water hyacinth for a variety
of applications (Gunnarsson and Petersen, 2007).
A large percentage of the inland fresh water areas in
India are rendered useless for the cultivation of fish
on account of large infestation of weeds. Profuse
growth of the aquatic vegetation in the water bodies
cause imbalance in the nutrient and oxygen content,
limits living space for fish, upsets the physico-
chemical equilibrium of the water, restricts plankton
production, promotes accumulation of deposits
leading to silting, increase the turbidity of waters,
provides shelter to predators and obstructs fishing
operations. The common methods adopted for control
and eradication of aquatic weeds are manual,
mechanical, chemical and biological
3.1 Physical Control:
Physical removal of weeds is the oldest and the most
common method used all over the world. However,
the equipments used for this purpose have undergone
considerable improvements. Physical control of
aquatic weeds is free from residue of pollution
problems. However, repeated removal of massive
quantities of vegetation from a water body removes
large quantities of nutrients from it. This may reduce
food production in the primary as well as secondary
tropic levels. Physical weeding is a non-selective
process so that the chances of establishment of a
specific weed are remote. Mowing, crushing, raking,
burning and mechanical chaining, dredging and
netting are some of the well known physical methods.
Recently in some advanced countries, underwater
weed cutters and ditch-bank movers have replaced
older methods. In India where labour is cheap,
manual methods are often employed to remove
weeds. In small water bodies, traditional methods of
hand picking, uprooting of emergent and marginal
weeds and cutting them with scythes are considered
suitable.
3.2 Chemical Control:
Chemicals can provide an efficient means of reducing
or eliminating the growth of undesirable aquatic
weeds. A single herbicide that controls the weeds and
at the same time is absolutely safe to all the water
uses is yet to be developed. The main considerations
in the use of herbicides in fishery waters are that they
should be (i) effective in killing weeds at reasonably
low rates of application, (ii) cheap and easily
available, (iii) non-toxic to human and stock animals
and (iv) should not pollute the treated water or have
any adverse effect on the water and soil. However,
JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17
E-ISSN0976-7916
the advantage of chemical control is that the
chemicals can reach the weeds otherwise inaccessible
to mechanical or other methods of control. Unlike the
mechanical control, chemical control sinks the weed
growth to the bottom avoiding thus loss of plant
nutrients from the water bodies.
3.3 Biological Control:
A small number of natural enemies is one of the main
reasons for the abundance and aggressive nature of
the weeds. Introduction of a suitable bio-agent can
restore a desirable balance in the aquatic ecosystem
by reducing weed growth without polluting the water.
Bio-control is relatively permanent in its effect since
the aquatic flora (the host) and the bio-agent tend to
remain in a cyclic equilibrium.
Certain weeds can be controlled by selected varieties
of herbivorous fishes such as grass carp, common
carp, silver carp, Tilapia and silver dollar fish.
Aquatic birds, mammals and some species of snails
are also effective in bio-control. Certain insects like
flea, beetle are specific feeders of the alligator weed
(The Indian Ocean fishery commission, 1977)
4.0 EXTRACTION OF ETHANOL FROM
WATER HYACINTH:
Photosynthetic processes in plants produce simple
and complex sugars, which can be decomposed by
fermentation in the presence of microorganisms such
as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Zymomonas mobilis
(Dien et al. 2003) to produce bioethanol. It is highly
soluble in water and is hygroscopic, thus requiring an
energy-intensive distillation process to separate it
from the mixture during the extraction process.
6CO2 + 6H2O + solar energy →
C6H12O6+6O2 (Photosynthesis) Glucose/simple sugar
C6H12O6 →
2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + energy Glucose (Bio)- ethanol
Ethanol can be produced from many different raw
materials, which are grouped according to the type of
carbohydrates they contain, i.e., sugar, starch or
cellulose. Sugar for ethanol production (sucrose,
glucose or fructose) may be derived from any of the
three classes of raw materials. Industrial processes
for the production of ethanol by fermentation of
molasses, beet, cane or grain sugars are well
established. Since sugars are already available in a
degradable form and yeast cells can metabolize
sugars directly, these substrates require the least
costly preparation. The other carbohydrates must be
hydrolyzed to sugars before they can be metabolized.
So, although starchy or cellulosic materials are
cheaper than sugar-containing raw materials, the
requirement of converting the starch or cellulosic
materials to fermentable sugars is a disadvantage of
these substrates. (Caylak and Sukan1996)
The free sugars present in many crops can be
transformed into ethanol by fermentation with the
help of yeasts. This is a well established route of
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
bioconversion. Starchy materials like potato, cassava,
corn maize, barley, sweet sorghum etc., can also be
transformed into ethanol through acid or acid –
enzyme action, or a two-step enzymatic action of
alpha amylase and amyloglucosidase which is the
most common practice. (Anjanabha Bhattacharya. et
al., 2010)
Agricultural residues having low sugar or starch
contents are principally composed of three organic
constituents; cellulose, hemicellulose and 30 to 45
per cent lignin. The cellulose and hemicellulose
components can be converted into sugars by either
acid or enzymatic hydrolysis. The enzymes, such as
exoglucanase, endoglucanase, glucosidase and
xylanases, derived principally from fungi, hydrolyse
cellulose and hemicellulose to principally glucose
and xylose sugars. Some other bacteria (Clostridium
thermocellum) are able to convert cellulose directly
into ethanol. (Kundu )
Sunita Mukhopadhyay and Narayan Chandra
Chatterjee trialed four different methods of
enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation for optimizing
the yield of ethanol.
Two common yeasts viz. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
and Pachysolen tannophilus were used for
fermentation. Significant concentration of ethanol
was obtained through Preferementation Hydrolysis –
Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation
(PH-SSF) process, over the other three processes viz.
Separate Hydrolysis And Fermentation (SHF),
Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation
(SSF) and Single Batch Bioconversion (SBB)
(Courtsy:J. Lindstedt, 2003)
4.1 Potential of Water Hyacinth for Ethanol
Production:
Of the world's total geographical land area of 13045
mha, 1450.8 mha of arable land area is under
permanent crops, sustaining a population of 6 billion
people. The world’s total irrigated area was 249.5 m
ha in 1997 (FAO 2000) which is 17.2%of total arable
land. It is this land which provides sustained and
assured productivity of crops and employs high input
returns. The continentwise spread of irrigated area
JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17
E-ISSN0976-7916
indicates that Asia has the maximum irrigated area
followed by Europe and Africa. The Asian continent
has 33.6% of area under irrigation of which Pakistan
has 80.2% followed by South Korean Rep. (64.9%),
Japan (62.8%), China (51.5%), Iraq (44.3%), Iran
(40%), and India (28.2%).
Aquatic weeds are those unabated plants which grow
and complete their life cycle in water and cause harm
to aquatic environment directly and to related eco-
environment relatively. Water is one of most
important natural resource and in fact basis of all life
forms on this planet. Therefore, appropriate
management of water from source to its utilization is
necessary to sustain the normal function of life. It is
one important part of natural resource management.
The presence of excessive aquatic vegetation
influences the management of water in natural
waterways, manmade canals and reservoirs which
amounts to millions of kilometres/ square kilometers
of such water bodies around the world. The area
under small tanks and ponds is equally important due
to the establishment of many small irrigation schemes
and watershed management projects all over the
world. For example, India has 1.9 m ha under water
in reservoirs and 1.2 m ha under irrigation canals.
The area under village ponds and tanks is nearly 2.2
m ha. (International Commission on Irrigation and
Drainage 2002)
4.2 Tentative Cost Analysis:
Both conventional ethanol and cellulosic ethanol are
biofuels, but conventional ethanol is produced using
food crops such as corn, wheat, sugarcane and
soybeans, and processed either through dry or wet
milling. Cellulosic ethanol is a biofuel produced from
agricultural wastes such as corn stover, sugarcane
bagasse and also from wood, grasses, or the non-
edible parts of plants. It is a type of biofuel produced
from lignocelluloses, a structural material that
comprises much of the mass of plants.
Cellulosic ethanol overcomes some of the problems
presented by the first generation ethanol feedstock
such as corn, maize etc. that Ethanol production
carries the risk that food cropping will turn into more
lucrative fuel-cropping. The only disadvantage of
cellulosic ethanol lies in the difficulty with which it is
presently extracted; the feedstock sugars in cellulose
and hemicelluloses are bound in complex
carbohydrates called polysaccharides, and separating
these complex structures into simple sugars is not
easy. This leads to longer process time, and low yield
per unit of feedstock, making cellulosic ethanol
somewhat less economical to produce than
conventional ethanol currently (http://www.unctad.
org/en/docs/ditcted200710_en.pdf)
As per the Department of Energy, USA, Future
Projections for Cellulosic Ethanol Costs:
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN0976-7916

All costs in $/ Gallon. save upto Rs.830 Crores of Foreign

Cost component 2001 2005 2012 2020 exchange.(Publication 116, Information Bulletin,
Feedstock 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.35 Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board)
Enzyme 3.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 4.4 Gasoline (Motor Spirit) and Its Substitute –
Conversion 1.7 1.2 0.8 0.6 Ethanol:
Total cost/gallon 5.7 24 1.6 1.05 4.4.1. Problems with Gasoline:
Total cost/gallon 9.3 3.9 2.6 1.7 There are several problems in using gasoline or
equivalent of
gasoline motor spirit or petrol which are derived from crude
*3.79 liter = 1 gallon; 1.63 gallons of ethanol is the oil. Petroleum reserves are finite. Emissions from
equivalent of 1 gallon of gasoline, in terms of engines using gasoline or motor spirit such as
calorific value / energy density Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide
* (Courtesy: BioZio estmates) and particulate matter cause pollution. Gasoline has
India is the second largest producer and biggest knocking tendency which limits the compression
consumer of sugar with production of about 18 ratio of the gas engine. TEL is an additive that
million tons per annum. The Indian sugar industry is improves the anti-knocking rating of the fuel
the second largest agro-industry in the world, which dramatically. The harmful effect of the lead led to
has a turnover of INR 500 billion per annum. It is banning of its use.
estimated that in the year 2010, sugar production in Benzene or cyclic compounds also increase the
India will increase further to a record level of 26.5 octane rating. Benzene is, however a known
million tons. Alongwith increase in Sugar production, carcinogenic material. Alternatively, MTBE and
increased quantities of Molasses will be available, ETBE are used as additives to improve anti-knocking
and production of Ethanol for use as Bio fuel is most tendency and to reduce other vehicular emissions.
promising value added processing for it. As per The oxygenated fuels burn more completely and so
industry estimates production of Ethanol has reached reduce carbon monoxide emission upto 20%.
2.4 billion litres in the year ending in September 4.4.2. Ethanol as an Automotive Fuel:
2010. As per reliable estimates at 5 % blending level, The advantages of using ethanol and methanol as
there will be demand of 375 Million litres/ year, automotive fuels are that they are oxygenates
while at 10 % level this demand will be 750 Million containing 35% oxygen and are renewable. They
litres /year. In case of blending 10 % ethanol with reduce vehicular emission of Hydrocarbons and
Diesel, this alone will generate demand of 3.7 to 3.8 Carbon Monoxide and eliminate emission of lead,
billion litres / year. Thus, there is potential for large benzene, butadiene etc. While the calorific value of
demand of Ethanol as automobile fuel. As per modest ethanol is lower than that of gasoline by 40% it
estimates of Petroleum Ministry in India, 5 % makes up a part by increased efficiency. Blends
blending of ethanol will save minimum INR 40 below 10% of ethanol do not present problems.
million (US $ 8 million in foreign exchange). This However, blends above 20% pose certain difficulties
benefit can further be enhanced by increasing the such as:
percentage to 10 % level. Also by permitting such (i) Higher aldehyde emissions,
blending with Diesel there will be much more (ii) Corrosiveness, affecting metallic parts
savings and also reduction in air pollution in the (iii) Higher latent heat of vaporisation causing
country. startability problem,
Ethanol production- past and present (iv) Higher evaporation losses due to higher vapour
Parameter India(2006) India (2010) pressure and
Fuel ethanol output(t) 525000 (v) Requiring large fuel tank due to lower calorific
Fuel ethanol demand(t) 1300000
value.
Total ethanol 1600000 2375000
Total sugar area (mha) 4.4 5.0
As there is a theoretical decrease in the energy
Mandatory blending 5% in 9 10% country content of gasoline blended with oxygenates, a
states wide decrease in mileage, km/ltr of fuel consumed is
Production cost Rs./Liter 19.80 25.0 expected. But in urban use a significant increase in
(Courtesy: Project of Extension Bureau Mott MacDonald India
fuel efficiency has been reported. The higher latent
and Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd)
heat of vaporisation of ethanol than gasoline is
4.3 Present Global and Indian Scenario of Ethanol
expected to cause startability problem. But blend up
Production and Utilization:
to 25% ethanol in gasoline poses no problem. Ethanol
According to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
is corrosive in nature, absorbs moisture readily and
(MPNG), 5% ethanol blend in petrol on all India
can affect metallic parts (ferrous/non-ferrous).
basis would require about 375 million litres of
However with the 10% ethanol blend no
ethanol per annum, which would go up manifold in
compatibility problems have been found.
the coming years as the blending percentage goes up
The net CO2 emission of burning a biofuel like
to 10% and higher. Thus the ethanol can replace 375
ethanol is zero since the CO2 emitted on combustion
million litres of petrol per annum, which in turn can

JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17

 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
is equal to that absorbed from the atmosphere by
photosynthesis during the growth of the plant
(sugarcane) used to manufacture ethanol. This is
illustrated by the following equations:
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 (plant sugar) + 6O2
(photosynthesis)
C6H12O6 + 3H2O → 3C2H5OH (ethanol) + 3O2
(hydrolysis and fermentation)
3C2H5OH + 9O2 → 6CO2 + 9H2O
(combustion of ethanol)
4.4.3. Ethanol-Gasoline Blends:
The value addition of ethyl alcohol as an octane
improver has been greatly enhanced because of
improved fuel quality requirements. Ethanol vehicles
have received high marks in performance, drivability,
and reliability tests. Power, acceleration, payload and
cruise speed are all-comparable with those for
equivalent gasoline-fueled vehicles. Most
conventional vehicles on the road today can use E10
(a 10% ethanol- 90% gasoline blend also known as
gasohol) without any special modifications. The use
of ethanol blending reduces the harmful emissions
like Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbons.
Brazil uses pure ethanol in about 20 per cent of their
vehicles and a 22 to 26 per cent ethanol-petrol blend
in the rest of their vehicles. The United States and
Australia use a 10 per cent ethanol blend. With a
normal production rate of 1,900 million litres a year,
India is the world’s fourth largest producer of ethanol
after Brazil, the United States and China. Beginning
1 January 2003, the Government of India mandated
the use of a 5 per cent ethanol blend in petrol sold in
nine sugarcane producing states. The Government
will expand the 5 per cent ethanol mandate to the rest
of country in a phased manner.
5.0 METHODOLOGY ADOPTED FOR
ETHANOL PRODUCTION:
The potential benefits of fuel ethanol have long been
understood; however, it is the development of new
biotechnologies that are beginning to make this
option a technically and economically viable option
in large parts of the world. There are four biomass
feedstocks, each which requires a somewhat different
technology.
Monomeric sugars. Traditional fermentation can
directly convert simple sugars such as those from
sugar cane and sugar beets into alcohol. This is the
primary method that has been used to produce
alcohol for human consumption for thousands of
years. However, the availability of these feedstocks is
limited because they are also used for food. Today
most of the fuel ethanol from simple sugars is made
from sugarcane in Brazil, where the combination of
land, labor, and climate provides favorable economic
conditions.
Starch. Starch is a biopolymer of glucose, a
monomeric sugar. It is the primary component of
corn and other grains. Starch cannot be directly
JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17
E-ISSN0976-7916
fermented to alcohol. An enzyme is required to break
it down into simple sugars. The simple sugars can
then be fermented to alcohol. While brewers learned
long ago how to use natural enzymes to achieve this
conversion, only in the last several decades has
modern industrial enzyme technology developed
methods to make inexpensive enzymes to allow
economic production of fuel ethanol. Those technical
developments have made possible the new fuel
ethanol industry in the United States based on corn.
The availability of starch is an order of magnitude
larger than that of monomeric sugars but is also
constrained because starch is a food for humans and
many farm animals.
Cellulose. Cellulose is the most common form of
biomass and is also a biopolymer of glucose. It is
structured to be difficult to break down and thus
serves as a defense mechanism for plants, because
only some animals can digest cellulose.
Hemicellulose. Hemicellulose is the fourth sugar
biopolymer. However, unlike the other sugars, it is a
highly branched chain of five- and six-carbon sugars.
It is the second most common form of biomass. Like
cellulose, only some animals have the capability to
digest it.
5.1 Use of Enzymatic Fermentation of Cellulose
for Ethanol Manufacture:
Lignocellulosic materials such as straw and wood,
which are often available as wastes, are much
cheaper than grain. Converting them to ethanol,
however, requires complex and costly processes. The
development of exciting, new technologies has made
it possible for lignocellulosic materials to become
economic as ethanol feedstocks.
Lignocellulosic materials contain two types of
polysaccharides, cellulose and hemicellulose, bound
together by a third component, lignin. From the point
of view of ethanol fermentation, they are hard to
work with for two reasons. First, the lignin protects
the cellulose and hemicellulose from attack by
enzymes. Second, when enzymes do manage to reach
the cellulose and hemicellulose, they are hindered by
the crystalline structure of these molecules.
Ethanol is produced in India from sugar molasses for
blending with petrol. Beginning January, 2003, the
Government of India mandated the use of 5 percent
ethanol blend in petrol through its ambitious Ethanol
Blending Program (EBP). Since Indian sugarcane
production is cyclical, ethanol and alcohol production
in India depends on the availability of sugar molasses
(a byproduct of domestic sugar production).
Currently, the government does not allow use of
imported ethanol for the EBP program, as the focus is
on developing domestic production capacities. While
making efforts to increase supply, and ensuring that
the move does not constrain production of sugar or
ethanol for industrial use, efforts to produce ethanol
from other sources are at the experimental stage.
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
Currently, India produces conventional bio-ethanol
from sugar molasses and production of advanced bio-
ethanol is still in the research and development phase.
India has 330 distilleries which produce 4 billion
liters of rectified spirit (alcohol) per year. Of the total
distilleries, about 115 distilleries have the capacity to
distill 1.8 billion liters of conventional ethanol per
year sufficient to meet the 5 percent blending
mandate.(http://www.mnre.gov.in/annualreport/2009
-0EN/Chapter%206/ chapter%206_1. html)
Strong growth in the consumption of ethanol across
the chemical and potable liquor industry is expected
to raise total ethanol consumption close to 2 billion
liters in 2010/11, up 140 million liters over the
previous year .The growth in consumption across
these sectors would severely constrain its supplies for
EBP. Consequently, the availability of ethanol in
2010/11 for blending with petrol is roughly estimated
at 200 million liters, against the target of
800[industry estimate] million liters set by the
Ethanol Manufacturers in India. Ethanol consumption
in 2009/10 was drawn down to 50 million liters from
100 million liters in 2008/09, mostly due to a short
supply of molasses and higher demand for ethanol
from competing industries. According to trade
sources, higher market prices for ethanol were
attractive for the suppliers to divert there supplies
from EBP.
5.2 Utility and Efficiency Of Ethanol:
There are about 20 large capacity biodiesel plants
(10,000 to 100,000 tons per year) in India that
produce biodiesel from edible oil waste (unusable oil
fractions), animal fat and non-edible oils.
Commercial production of biodiesel from jatropha
and non-edible oilseeds is small, with estimates
varying from 140 to 300 million liters per year. The
biodiesel produced is sold to the unorganized sector
(irrigation pumps, agricultural usage, diesel
generators etc) and to experimental projects carried
out by automobiles and transport companies.
In April, 2010, General Motors (GM) and U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) entered into a five year
partnership with the Central Salt and Marine
Research Institute (CSMRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat to
explore the potential (through research and
development) of jatropha plantations as a source of
alternative fuel and sustainable energy crops for
biodiesel production in India. The collaboration plans
to set up a jatropha plantation near the GM
manufacturing facility in Gujarat and provide support
to research and developmental activities. The Central
Salt and Marine Research Institute fall under Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of
Science and Technology, GOI.
(Report of committee on Bio-fuels, Planning
Comission, GoI, 2003)Punjab Agricultural University
is actively involved in R&D work on plant oils and
their esters (bio-diesel) as alternate fuel for diesel
JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17
E-ISSN0976-7916
engines since early eighties. Indian Institute of
Petroleum (IIP) is actively pursuing the utilization of
non-edible oils for the production of bio-diesel,
additives for lubricating oils, saturated and
unsaturated alcohols and fatty acids and many other
value added products. Indian Institute of Chemical
Technology extracted oil from Jatropha curcas. A
catalyst-free process (Indian patent filed, US Patent
being filed) that is insensitive to moisture or high
FFA content has been developed at IICT, and an oil
of any FFA content can be converted to the alkyl
ester. Besides, preliminary studies on the utilization
of non-edible oils such as Neem, Mahua, and Linseed
etc. as fuel are being carried out at IIT, Delhi and IIT,
Madras. IOC R&D is also doing some work on the
transesterification of vegetable oils. IOC (R&D) has
already set up a biodiesel production facility of 60
kg/day at Faridabad. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has a
pilot plant utilizing Karanj for biodiesel production
and has carried out successful trials on tractors using
this fuel.
Likewise examples need to be set for the other
possible sources of ethanol production which involve
lesser investments.
6.0 CONCLUDING REMARKS:
From the above studies the following concluding
remarks appear to be justified that as a noxious weed,
water hyacinth has to be utilized as a mass for
production of energy in form of biogas, ethanol etc.
instead of eradication. The byproducts obtained
during production of biogas or ethanol could be
easily digested and produces a good fibrous fertilizer
with high NPK content and which alternatively
increases the aeration capacity of soil and ultimately
yield of crop. A low cost project could be set up in
rural areas so that it provides job potential to local
people and energy source with least cost. This could
enhance the social and economical growth of the
region thereby reducing the spread of a noxious weed
like water hyacinth.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors are thankful to Dr.V.S.Sapkal, Head, and
Dept.of Chemical Technology for providing us
facilities to work in SGB Amravati University camps
and Dr.Bhosale, Librarian, SGB Amravati
University, for permitting us to refer the library for
collecting research papers. The help rendered by
Dr.N.N.Gedam, Asst.Professor, Department of
Chemistry, IBSS College of Engineering, for
carrying out laboratory tests is highly acknowledged.
REFERENCES:
1. Abraham M, Kurup GM (1996). “Bioconversion
of tapioca (Manihotesculenta) waste and water
hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) influence of
various Physico-chemical factors”. J. Ferment.
Bioeng. 82: 259-263.
2. Adholeya A (2007). “Biofuels: Indian
experiences and status. Presentation at the ad hoc
expert group meeting on biofuels: trade and
development implications of present and
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
emerging technologies,” United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva,
19 June.
3. Anjanabha Bhattacharya. Et Al. (2010).”water
hyacinth as a potential biofuel crop” EJEAFChe,
9 (1), 2010. [112-122]
4. Bentley, R.W., 2002. “Global oil and gas
depletion: an overview”. Energy Policy 30, 189–
205.
5. Bolenz S, Omran H, Gierschner K (1990)
“Treatment of water hyacinth tissue to obtain
useful products”. Biowastes 33:263-274
6. Cavallo, A.J., (2002). “Predicting the peak in
world oil production. “Natural Resources
Research 11 (3), 187–195.
7. Caylak And Sukan(1996)”Comparison of
Different Production Processes for Bioethanol.”
Turk J Chem22 (1998), 351 - 359.
8. Dien BS, Cotta MA, Jeffries TW (2003)
“Bacteria engineered for fuel ethanol production:
current status” Appl Microbiol Biotech 63:258-
266
9. El-Shinnawi MM, Alaa El-Din MN, El-Shimi
SA, Badawi MA (1989) “Biogas production from
crop residues and aquatic weeds.” Res Conser
Recyc 3:33-45
10. Eusuf, Bhuiyan, Haque and Khan(
1985).”Production of power alcohol from water
hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes]. Pt.I.
Saccharification.” Bangladesh Journal of
Scientific & Industrial Research. 20 (1-4): 90-97.
11. Fayyad, Momani, Abu-Ein,Juditawy and Abu-
Rahmeh (2010) “Experimental Investigation of
Using Fuel Additives – Alcohol.” Research
Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and
Technology 2(2): 164-169, 2010
12. Gnansounou and Dauriat (2005) “ Ethanol fuel
from biomass-A review.” J Sci and Industrial
research Vol.64,November2005, pp809-821
13. Gopal and Sharma (1981) “Water hyacinth most
troublesome weed of the world.” Hindasia
Publisher, India
14. Gressel J (2008) “Transgenics are imperative for
biofuel crops.” Plant Sci 174: 246-263
15. Gressel J (2008) “Transgenics are imperative for
biofuel crops.” Plant Sci 174: 246-263
16. Gunnarsson CC, Petersen CM (2007) “Water
hyacinths as a resource in agriculture and energy
production: A literature review.” Waste Man 27:
117-129
17. Ingole NW, Bhole AG (2002). “Utilization of
water hyacinth relevant in water treatment and
resource recovery with special reference to
India.” J. Water Supply Res. Technol. 51: 283-
295
18. Jayanth (1987) “Biological control of water
hyacinth in India. “Indian statute of horticulture
research tech. Bull. No.3
19. Lindsey K, Hirt HM (1999a) “Use Water
Hyacinth! A Practical Hanbook of uses for the
Water Hyacinth fromAcross the World.”
Anamed: Winnenden, 114.
20. Lindsey K, Hirt HM (1999b)” Use Water
Hyacinth!”. Eco Books pp 816
21. Lindstedt, J et al (1995), “Process design of a
diluted acid plant in Ornskoldsvik” SSEU Report
P-3100.
22. Lindstedt, J, (1995), “Feasibility study of a
biorefinery in Falun”, SSEU report No. P-0630.
23. Macedo IC (2007). “ Ethanol de Cana de Acucar
no Brasil. Presentation at the Seminar on
JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17
E-ISSN0976-7916
Technologies for Future Ethanol Production in
Brazil. “Instituto Tecnologia Promon, Sao Paulo,
Brazil, 17 April.
24. Malik, A. (2007). “Environmental challenge vis a
vis opportunity: the case of water
hyacinth.Environ”. Int. 33: 122-138
25. Masami GO, Usui I, Urano N (2008) “Ethanol
production from the water hyacinth Eichhornia
crassipes by yeast isolated from various
hydrospheres”. African J Microbio Res 2:110-
113
26. Masami, Usui And Urano, 2008 “Ethanol
production from the water hyacinth Eichhornia
crassipes by yeast isolated from various
hydrospheres” African Journal of Microbiology
Research Vol.(2) pp. 110-113, May, 2008
27. Mishima D, Kuniki M, Sei K, Soda S, Ike M,
Fujita M (2008) “Ethanol production from
candidate energy crops: Water hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia
stratiotes L.) “Biores Tech 99:2495-2500
28. Mukhopadhyay and Chatterjee (2010)
“Bioconversion of water hyacinth hydrolysate
into ethanol.” Bioresourses 5(2),1301-1310
29. Nigam JN (2002). “Bioconversion of water-
hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) hemicellulose
acid hydrolysate to motor fuel ethanol by xylose–
fermenting yeast”. J. Biotechnol. 97: 107-116
30. Poddar K, Mandal L, Banerjee GC (1991)
“Studies on water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
– Chemical composition of the plant and water
from different habitats”. Ind Vet J 68:833-837
31. Rahman MM, Chowdhury AA, Khan MR, Islam
A (1986). “Microbial production of biogas from
organic wastes”. J. Ferment. Technol. 64:45-49
32. Simeon C, Fur CL, Silhol M (1985). “Aquatic
biomass and waste treatment.” Bioenergy. 84:
275-281
33. Simeon C, Fur CL, Silhol M (1987). “Purification
of pisciculture waters through cultivation and
harvesting of aquatic biomass”. Water
Sci.Technol. 19:113-121.
34. Tangka, Berinyuy, Tekounegnin And Okale(2011
) “Physico-chemical properties of bio-
ethanol/gasoline blends and the qualitative effect
of different blends on gasoline quality and engine
performance”. Journal of Petroleum Technology
and Alternative Fuels Vol. 2(3), pp. 35-44, March
2011
35. Wasudevan Et Al(2005) “Liquid fuels from
biomass: an overview.” J Sci and Ind Research
Vol.64 pp822-831
36. An article on “sustainable development through
the utilization of biomass” by Professor Subir
Kundu
37. Project Profile on Molasses Based Ethanol /
Rectified Spirit Plant by Extension Bureau Mott
MacDonald India and Gujarat Agro Industries
Corporation Ltd
38. Publication 116, Information Bulletin, Andhra
Pradesh Pollution Control Board
39. Report by Kusemiju “Water hyacinth in 21st
century- a keynote”, National Institute for
Freshwater Fisheries Research and the
Organizing Committee , Nigeria
40. Report of Committee on Bio-Fuels, Planning
Comission,GOI, 2003
41. Report of Committee on Bio-Fuels, Planning
Comission,GOI, 2003
42. Report of International Commission on Irrigation
and Drainage 2002
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN0976-7916

43. Report of Planning Commission, Government of

India. Report of the Working Group, Tenth Plan.
44. Report of the Committee on Development of Bio-
Fuel. Government of India Planning Commission
(2005).
45. Report of The Fifth Session of The Indian Ocean
Fishery Commission, 1977
46. Report on Sustainability Of Ethanol Blending
Programme In India. Abinash Verma Director
General Indian Sugar Mills Association, New
Delhi
47. UNCTAD. Biofuels – Advantages and Trade
Barriers. Paper Prepared By Suani Teixeira
Coelho, 4 February 2005. UNCTAD Document
UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2005/1.
48. UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2007/10
49. http://
www.ea.gov.au/atmosphere/transport/fuel/index.
html,
50. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_
data.cfm?fips=in
51. http://www.ea.gov.au/atmosphere/transport/fuel/i
ndex.html
52. http://www.ethanolrfa.org (Website of The
Renewable Fuels Association)
53. http://www.mnre.gov.in/annualreport/2009-
0en/chapter%206/chapter%206_1.html
54. http://www.mnre.gov.in/annualreport/2009-10
en/chapter%206/chapter%206_1.html
55. http://www.mnre.gov.in/annualreport/2009-10
en/chapter%206/chapter%206_1.html
56. http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ditcted200710_en
.pdf
57. http://www2.dupont.com/biofuels/en_us/news/in
dex.html

JERS/Vol. III/ Issue I/January-March, 2012/9-17