Production of bioethanol from coconut water through fermentation process

The substantial and increasing coconut production in Indonesia results in a corresponding rise in coconut water production. To address this surplus, coconut water can be utilized to produce bioethanol through fermentation. Bioethanol is ethanol derived from plant materials rich in carbohydrates, cellulose, or glucose. This study explores the production of bioethanol from coconut water using Alcotec 48 Turbo Yeast. The ethanol content is analyzed using an alcohol refractometer, followed by distillation to enhance ethanol concentration. The initial glucose content of coconut water post-hydrolysis is 14% (v/v). Optimal conditions for fermentation were found with 14 g/L of Alcotec 48 Turbo Yeast over a period of 6 days, yielding a bioethanol content of 37% (v/v). After distillation under the same conditions, the bioethanol content increased to 53% (v/v). Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in Minitab 17, further optimization revealed that fermenting with 6 g/L of Alcotec 48 Turbo Yeast for 2 days resulted in a bioethanol content of 19.7829%. Subsequent distillation at 14 g/L of yeast over 9 days maintained the bioethanol content at 53.764%. This research demonstrates the potential of utilizing coconut water for bioethanol production, highlighting effective fermentation and distillation strategies to enhance ethanol yield.