Analysis of plant tissue of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and its utilization as raw material for bioethanol production

Abstract

Abstract Helmy, Jacoeb AM, Suptijah P. 2012. Analysis of plant tissue of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and its utilization as raw material for bioethanol production. Bonorowo Wetlands 2: 66-73. The fruits of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (or locally known as lindur) have a high carbohydrate content potentially used as a source of bioethanol. The purpose of this research was to study the plant tissues of B. gymnorrhiza, utilizing fruit as a bioethanol feedstock and determining the optimum time of fermentation to produce bioethanol. The research was conducted from January to April 2012 in several laboratories at the Bogor Agricultural University, West Java. The study consists of preliminary and primary research. Preliminary research includes characterization of B. gymnorrhiza fruits as raw materials, anatomical analysis, proximate test, starter preparation (culture regeneration and liquid media starter), fermentation media preparation, nutrient addition, pH adjustment, and pasteurization. The primary research includes bioethanol making, alcohol fermentation, incubation treatment, final pH test, and ethanol content test. The results showed that leaf B. gymnorrhiza was composed of epidermal tissue, sponges, palisade parenchyma, and bundle tissue. The stem was composed of epidermal tissue, cortical tissue containing starch granules, and bundle tissue. The fruits were composed of epidermal tissue, cortical tissue containing starch, and carrier tissue. Proximate test of fresh gymnorrhiza fruit showed water content of 62.92%, ash 1.29%, fat 0.79%, protein 2.11%, and carbohydrates 32.91%. The longer the fermentation time causes, the lower the final pH. The highest pH value occurred on the third-day fermentation (XI), 4.41; the lowest was on the seventh-day fermentation (X3), 3.97. The highest ethanol content was obtained from fifth-day fermentation (X2), 3.51%; the lowest level was produced from third-day fermentation (XI), 3.01%.