Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) starch extraction, characterization and bioethanol generation from its pulp/waste

Abstract

A polysaccharide molecule called starch exists in nature and is cheap, renewable, biodegradable, and readily accessible. The main objective of this project is to extract and characterize anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) starch, as well as to generate bio-ethanol from its pulp/waste. The anchote sample used in this investigation came from Ethiopia’s western Oromia region. Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) starch was extracted, and the pulp from the tuber was peeled and the supernatant isolated for bio-ethanol production. The extracted starch from anchote and bio-ethanol from pulps were characterized by physicochemical, functional properties and FT-IR analysis. The result of physicochemical and functional properties of anchote starch was found to be pH (4.44), WHC (112%), Solubility (5.03%), swelling power (5.781%), Gelatinization temperature (53.33 °C), WAC (2 g/g), bulk density (0.605 g/cm3) and OAC (3 g/g). According to this FTIR research, anchote starch has a chemical structure that is similar to corn, cassava, and potato starch. As the results showing a promising alcoholic content (25% v/v) and the existence of bioethanol being validated by a combustion test, the pulps/wastes recovered from anchote are also good sources of bioethanol. Finally, the FTIR spectroscopic analysis revealed that ethyl alcohol was produced from anchote pulps/waste after acid hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation.

Keywords

• Anchote
• Pulp/wastes
• Starch
• Bio-ethanol
• Fermentation
• Distillation