Feasibility Studies of Oil Palm Frond Liquid Extract Fermentation for Solvent Production Using Clostridium Acetobutylicum (ATCC4259)

With the rising concern over environmental protection, the use of agro-waste biomass as alternative resource for solvent production is appealing. Oil palm frond is the most generated yet unused biomass. Hence, minimization of this agro-based waste through a simple extraction technology is an attractive approach. The paper examine the fermentation of oil palm frond liquid extract for solvent production using clostridium acetobutylicum (ATCC4259) in terms of cell growth, sugar conversion and solvent production at pH 6.0 and 6.3 respectively. A total solvent of 8.41 g/L and 8.61 g/L at pH 6.0 and 6.3 were obtained at initial glucose concentration of 40 g/L. Moreover, oil palm frond liquid extract richness in micro nutrients which is essential for enzymatic reaction and helps in microbial metabolism for solvent production. This result indicates that biochemical conversion of oil palm agro-waste is a promising process for solvent production.