 Corresponding author: Koyejo Oduola Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Kinetic modeling of ethanol production by batch fermentation of sugarcane juice using immobilized yeast Kingsley Chidozie Agu and Mujeeb Koyejo Oduola * Chemical Engineering Department, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 2021, 07(01), 124–136 Publication history: Received on 01 March 2021; revised on 19 April 2021; accepted on 21 April 2021 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/gjeta.2021.7.1.0060 Abstract Ethanol production via the batch fermentation of sugarcane juice using immobilized yeast has been studied. The influence of glucose concentration, ethanol concentration, and cell concentration (biomass) on the process rate throughout the period of fermentation has been investigated. Initial cell concentration was found to be 4.60 g/L saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biomass, ethanol and glucose concentrations were measured at different time interval during fermentation. The experimental data obtained were fitted using a variety of models for yeast growth. The logistic model gave the best fitting and was the basis for the development of the overall kinetic model. For ethanol formation, different model based on the logistic model for yeast growth were used to fit the experimental data and the leudeking – piret model was adopted because of its good fit. The leudeking – piret model was also adopted for substrate consumption. The estimated values of the kinetic parameters in the developed model were μm=0.04216hr -1 , Xm = 6.2652g/L, α = 24.87149g/g.hr, Yx/s = 0.18292g/g and m = 0.008171g/g.hr. Therefore, a model based on the logistic equation of yeast growth, growth associated production of ethanol, and consumption of glucose for biomass and maintenance was found to accurately fit the production of ethanol from sugarcane. Keywords: kinetic modelling, ethanol, fermentation, sugarcane, yeast. 1. Introduction The ever increasing demand for ethanol and ethanol-based products over the years has necessitated an imminent requirement for high yielding production strains and search for alternative economically viable production processes. This is aggravated by the concerns about the various economic and environmental effects of depletion of nonrenewable fossil fuel sources, which places bioethanol as a suitable alternative to petroleum [1, 2, 3]. Ethanol is gradually and increasingly gaining importance in our society and the world at large. Ethanol is a very important component used in the pharmaceuticals. It is also used in some part of the world (Brazil) as a major component in the production of gasohol (alcohol and gasoline). In Nigeria, ethanol is used in the production of perfumes and vinegar. It is also used as beverage in occasions like burial ceremonies, marriages and other traditional events [4,5,6]. Sugarcane is normally used for sugar production. Sugarcane juice is a preferred drink in India, especially in summer. However, disease and insect infested canes or shriveled and rotten canes have to be separated from the healthy canes for processing. Thus, the juice from such unwanted canes could be used for ethanol production, which could be used as bio-fuel to supplement the energy needs of the country. Sugarcane ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel produced by the fermentation of sugarcane juice and molasses. Because it is a clean, affordable and low-carbon biofuel, sugarcane ethanol has emerged as a leading renewable fuel for the transportation sector [7].