Production of Energy—The Second Generation Ethanol and Prospects

Bioethanol is mainly produced from food sources, leading to criticisms regarding competition between food and fuels. The study of alternatives raw materials is very important. The reactions of hydrolysis of sisal bagasse were carried out in stainless steel reactor of high pressure. Sugar contents were determined by HPLC. The pretreatment was realized in the highest temperature and lowest acid concentration to obtain the maximum xylose concentration of 24,000 mg/L and maximum glucose concentration of 6700 mg/L. After the prehydrolysis the percentage of cellulose in the sisal bagasse concentrated in 107 % in function of hemicellulose reduction (30 %) and leaching of ashes (40 %). In the hydrolysis, the higher formation of glucose occurred in the highest temperature and highest acid concentration to obtain values of 4000 mg/L. The sisal bagasse has a high quantity of pentose from the hemicellulose. The hydrolyzate liquor can be used for the production of ethanol.