Ethanol by Volume Produced From Waste Pod of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis) Using African Giant Snail (Archachatina Marginata) Slime and Yeast

Ethanol by volume produced from waste of fluted pumpkin pod (Telfairia occidentalis) using African giant snail (Archachatina marginata) slime and yeast was investigated. Varying weights of 250g, 500g and 750g of solid waste were chosen for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd determinations respectively. A total of seven groups labeled A-G were set up; group A (Pp alone ); group B (snail slime (SL) plus Pp); group C (yeast (Y) plus Pp); group D- D1, D2, D3 (25ml of (SL) plus 7.5g of (Y)); group E- E1, E2, E3 (50ml of SL plus 15g of Y); group F- F1, F2, F3 (75ml of SL plus 22.5g of Y) and group G- G1, G2, G3 (100ml of SL plus 30g of Y). All groups were fermented under anaerobic condition at (37oC) for 24hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs. The pH of the solution before and after centrifuging was 5.4 and 5.2. Cellulose content of Pp waste was determined, contents of all treated groups were distilled and percentage of ethanol (Et) determined and characterized using Gas chromatographic (GC) technique. Result of the cellulose content was (20.56±0.58%). The Et by volume produced increased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in fermentation time, however, there was no Et produced in group A. Also, increase in concentration of snail slime and yeast brought about corresponding increase in Et by volume. The maximum bioethanol production was obtained in group G (G3). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the Et by volume of group D-G and groups A, B and C. Characterization of Et using GC showed (group B 1.09%; group C 2.99%; group D-(D1) 13.58% and D2 35.72%). In conclusion, pumpkin pod waste could be a promising source of Agro waste for producing bioethanol using African giant snail slime and yeast.