Production of lignocellulosic ethanol from Lantana camara
by bacterial cellulase of termite symbionts

Abstract

Due to the rapid growth in population and industrialization, worldwide ethanol demand is increasing continuously. Lignocellulosic biomasses are most abundant and renewable sources of the world and they can act as a promising source for bioethanol production. The major objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of acid and steam pretreatment on Lantana camara for improved yield of bioethanol production by using cellulase production by bacteria isolated from termite gut and optimization of conditions required for maximum activity of cellulase enzyme. Cellulase producing bacteria isolated from termite’s gut screened by congored test. Cellulase activity was measured by DNS method. From the present study it is concluded that bacteria isolated from termite gut was producing maximum amount of cellulase enzyme after 40 hours (TCDB1, 2) and after 60 hours (TCDB 3). Cellulase enzyme produced by bacteria isolated from termite gut was found to have pH around 5, temperature 50°C for TCDB 1 and 70°C for TCDB 2 and 3 as optimum conditions .Activity of Cellulase enzyme produced by bacteria isolated from termite gut was found to be increased by the addition of 5 mM MnSO4 (all three TCDB) and MgSO4 (only TCDB3). It Possible to produce lignocellulosic bioethanol (11.66%) from Lantana camara after steam and acid pretreatment by using Cellulase for Saccharification (72 hours) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for fermentation (72 hours). Bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is a globally accepted alternative fuel. The production of ethanol from Lantana camara would have the dual advantage of producing energy and serving as an effective method of weed management.