Production of Ethanol and Fertilizer from Salab Luang Grass by the Aquaculture Community Enterprise, Ban Khlong Bang Kasi, Bang Pla Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province

Abstract

Salab Luang grass is a plant that commonly found along fishpond margins. Salab Luang grass exhibits cellulose-rich composition that makes it a promising raw material for ethanol and fertilizer production. In this research focuses on using Salab Luang grass for ethanol and fertilizer production through the active participation by the community enterprise group of aquaculture farmers, Ban Khlong Bang Kasi. The extraction of ethanol from Salab Luang grass involves a process of lignin removal, hydrolysis, and batch fermentation under static conditions. This process successfully yields ethanol, a primary raw material for producing solid fuel. The resulting ethanol-based solid fuel product exhibits a combustion duration of 69 seconds per gram, surpassing the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) 950-2547 standard, which specifies a minimum of 45 seconds per gram. This initiative significantly reduces using commercial ethanol as a raw material for solid fuel production. Its cost is lower than 34.61% by compared to market prices. Additionally, the cellulose residue as a byproduct of ethanol production can be further utilized for fertilizer development. Moreover, this research involved community participation in designing and enhancing packaging to ensure product stability and prevent evaporation. Overall, the community demonstrates a high level of participation in the production of solid fuels and fertilizers (𝑥̅ = 3.97, S.D. = 0.14).