Enhancement of Reducing Sugar Content in Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) Seed Through Dilute Acid Pretreatment

Abstract: The effect of varied concentrations of dilute acid on the reducing sugar content of jackfruit seeds (JFS) and its potential as a raw material for bioethanol production was investigated in this study. Raw JFS is known to be rich in starch, which can be converted into fermentable sugar using dilute acid hydrolysis by utilising microbial activity. The reducing sugar concentration of the native and pre-treated biomass sample was determined by the 3,5-dinitro salicylic acid using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Dilute acid pretreatment (DAP) was carried out at varied acid concentrations (1 - 5%, v/v) and solid biomass loading of 10% w/v at a constant temperature of 121℃ for 15, 30, and 45 minutes. After pretreatment, the highest reducing sugar yield (2.01 ± 0.03 mg/g) was obtained at 1% (v/v) hydrolysed for 15 mins. There was a 57.03% increase in reducing sugar yield after pretreatment with dilute acid.

Keywords: Bioethanol, pretreatment, reducing sugars Artocarpus heterophyllus.