Applications of immobilized Bacillus subtilis in biobutanol production purification and fuel characteristic analysis

Section: Research Articles
Keywords: Bio-butanol , Liquid liquid extraction , Immobilized cells, Distillation , Fuel parameters
Subjects: Biology, Chemistry , Microbiology , Biofuel

The need for eco-friendly energy sources has led to a surge in biofuel research, where bio-butanol is emerging as a potential alternative to fossil fuels. The study delves into bio-butanol purification and fuel parameter analysis using immobilized Bacillus cells. A maximum amount of bio-butanol was recovered by integrating liquid-liquid extraction with distillation techniques. Bio-butanol production was boosted to more than 80 % compared to free cells. The immobilized cells of the potent Bacillus subtilis strain (T1) demonstrated remarkable efficiency, elevating bio-butanol production from 8.16 g/L (with free cells) to a substantial 15.03 g/L (immobilized cells). The recovered bio-butanol was suitable as a direct fuel source and a blend with standard petrol. The immobilization of the cells further solved one of the limitations in bio-butanol production. This breakthrough highlights bio-butanol potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly fuel, contributing to a more sustainable energy future. The findings provide a promising pathway toward reducing our dependence on conventional fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impact, making strides toward a greener and more energy-efficient future.