Conversion of Cellulose (Sugarcane Bagasse) to Sustainable Fuel Using Synthesized Zeolite-Y Catalyst

Sustainable fuel is a fuel from renewable sources. The global community is turning attention to biofuel, biogas and biodiesel due to the increasing cost and adverse environmental effect of fossil fuel. In this research work zeolite -y catalyst was produced from local clay (kaolin clay) gotten from Alkaleri in Bauchi -State Nigeria and its catalytic activity was tested in the conversion of bagasse to ethanol. The kaolin was first beneficiated. 25g of the beneficiated kaolin was transformed to metakaolin and reacted with 7.5g of Sodium hydroxide, 34.1g of sodium silicate and 75ml of deionized water to form a gel at constant stirring (700rpm) at 27°C. The gel was aged for 3 days at room temperature, then crystallized in an oven at 100°C for 7hrs. The aged gel was filtered, washed with deionized water which reduced the pH to 7. It was then crystallized at 100°C for 12hrs. Physiochemical analysis was carried out to further confirm the nature of the synthesized zeolite. Finally, sustainable fuel (ethanol) was produced through dilute acid hydrolysis by the use of sugarcane bagasse. During fermentation one of the two samples was fermented with saccharomyces sareviaes together with the zeolite catalyst. The two samples were analyzed to confirm the catalytic activity of the zeolite catalyst.