摘要：AbstractLuffa cylindricaalso known as sponge gourd (SG), is a non-edible feedstock that is readily available and under-utilized. In this study,SGas a potential source for production of ethanol was studied under statistically optimized conditions.SGwas collected, peeled, dried, milled and sieved (1mm). Several pretreatment methods were employed onSGnamely: steam explosion, alkaline, combination of alkaline and steam explosion, zinc chloride and sodium sulphite. Central Composite Design (CCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to design and determine the optimum parameters for glucose yield as well as the fermentation for bioethanol production. The best pretreatment method for sponge gourd was investigated to be sodium sulphite pretreatment with a glucose yield of 6.65 kgm−3. The sodium sulphite pretreatedSGwas modelled, optimized and validated with R2of 0.9974 at p < 0.05. Glucose production was optimal at conditions: sodium sulphite (9% w/w), temperature (100 °C) and reaction time (60 min) resulting in glucose yield of 6.673 kgm−3. From the CCD, the factors that gave the highest ethanol concentration of 6.84kgm−3were inoculum size (7.5 v/v), fermentation time (24 h) and nitrogen source (inorganic). The study concluded that sponge gourd could be a potential feedstock for bioethanol production and would prevent under-utilized agro-waste materials.
