Bioconversion of Cellulosic Waste into Bioethanol—A Synergistic Interaction of Trichoderma Viride and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Bioconversion offers a cheap and safe method of not only disposing the agricultural residues, but also it has the potential to convert lignocellulosic wastes into usable forms such as reducing sugars that could be used for ethanol production. In this present study, a formulated bio-control agent Trichoderma viride collected from the farmers of Wayanad, Kerala, India and an indigenous Trichoderma spp isolated from the paddy fields of Thiruporur area, Tamil nadu, India were used to evaluate the efficiency of cellulolytic property for the conversion of cellulosic wastes such as vegetable waste and sugarcane bagasse to simple sugars. Further the same was used as substrate for the synthesis of bio-ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cellulase production ability of both fungi using substrates carboxy methyl cellulose, vegetable waste and bagasse were estimated and the amount of cellulase produced by Trichoderma viride was 396.6, 361.6 and 466.6 U/ml and the amount of cellulase produced by Trichoderma spp KT was estimated as 198.3, 233.3 and 245 U/ml from the corresponding substrates. Among the all substrate used, sugarcane bagasse had served as a good substrate when compared to others. Bioconversion of the same saccarified broth was used for bio-ethanol production. The production rate estimated in carboxy methyl cellulose, vegetable waste and sugarcane bagasse was 70 and 100% respectively by Trichoderma viride where as it was 54.6, 66.3 and 83.3% in the fermented broths of Trichoderma spp KT. In conclusion, the cellulosic waste can be very well used as a resource for bio-ethanol production. The synergistic interactions of Trichoderma viride and Saccharomyces cerevisiae can play a significant role in bioconversion of waste into a renewable energy.