Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 247-255 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/tgmb 250 their ability to ferment pentose sugars, which are abundant in hemicellulose (Malik et al., 2021). The selection of microbial strains is crucial for achieving high ethanol yields and efficient fermentation. 3.3 Distillation and purification Distillation is the primary method used to separate ethanol from the fermentation broth. Techniques such as azeotropic distillation and vacuum distillation are employed to achieve high-purity ethanol (Sharma et al., 2020). Additionally, advanced purification methods like molecular sieves and membrane separation can be used to further purify ethanol, removing any remaining water and impurities (Solarte-Toro et al., 2019). The efficiency of distillation and purification processes directly impacts the overall yield of bioethanol. High energy consumption and the need for multiple distillation steps can reduce the process's economic viability (Sharma et al., 2020). Moreover, the presence of residual inhibitors from the pre-treatment stage can affect the purity of the final product, necessitating additional purification steps (Solarte-Toro et al., 2019). Addressing these challenges is essential for improving the overall efficiency and yield of bioethanol production fromAgave. 4 Application Potential of Agave Bioethanol 4.1 Economic viability The economic viability of agave-based bioethanol production hinges on several factors, including feedstock availability, pretreatment costs, and energy consumption. Agave residues, such as bagasse and leaf fibers, are abundant by-products of the tequila industry, providing a low-cost feedstock option. However, the economic feasibility is influenced by the pretreatment process. For instance, the ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) process has shown promising results in terms of sugar conversion efficiency, but the cost of ammonia and the need for optimized enzyme mixtures can add to the overall production costs (Flores-Gómez et al., 2018). A comparative study between agave juice and sugarcane molasses indicated that while agave juice has environmental benefits, its economic viability improves significantly when renewable energy sources are integrated into the production process (Figure 2) (Parascanu et al., 2021). Figure 2 System boundaries for the bioethanol production, taking into account Block (I) agave cultivation, (II) agave juice extraction, and (III) agave juice fermentation (Adopted from Parascanu et al., 2021) The market potential for agave-based bioethanol is promising, particularly in regions with established agave industries, such as Mexico. The commercialization prospects are bolstered by the high sugar conversion rates and ethanol yields achieved through optimized pretreatment and fermentation processes (Aguilar et al., 2018; Flores-Gómez et al., 2018). Additionally, the use of renewable energy sources can enhance the economic feasibility, making agave-based bioethanol a competitive alternative to traditional fossil fuels and other bioethanol sources (Parascanu et al., 2021). The integration of agave bioethanol into existing fuel markets could also benefit from government incentives and policies aimed at promoting renewable energy sources.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==