DEVELOPMENT OF NIPA (Nypa fruticans) SAP CLOSED COLLECTION VESSEL

The ultimate goal of the present study was to develop a secure, safe, and hygienic nipa sap collection system for bioethanol production, with the aim of preserving its physico-chemical properties such as physical appearance, pH and sugar brix by reducing the rate of fermentation while attached to the peduncle. The developed collection system was evaluated in terms of the physical and chemical properties of nipa sap collected and ethanol yield in comparison to the traditional and existing collection system used by the nipa community which utilizes bamboo shingle as their collector. Physical appearance of the sap collected using the designed collection system had no foreign materials after harvesting while the traditional collection system had shown traces of insect infestation. The sap that was produced for both of the designed and traditional collection system was milky-white and yellowish-white in color respectively. There was a significant difference in terms of pH concentration of the sap collected using the designed collection system compared to the sap collected using the traditional system overtime. Sugar brix of nipa sap collected using designed collection system is significantly higher than the sap collected using traditional system. A total ethanol yield of 32.25% and 75.54% was obtained for the designed and traditional collection system respectively. Cost Analysis revealed that the designed collection system was found to be cheaper (PhP 11.93) than the traditional collection system (PhP. 20.00). The developed closed collection system can preserved the chemical properties of the nipa sap and could prevent acceleration of fermentation and the deterioration of its potential to yield more ethanol

“Nipahol”: A Locally Formulated Sanitizer/Disinfectant from Nipa Bioethanol for Possible Use Against Covid-19

“Nipahol” is high-grade bioethanol produced from nipa sap using the proprietary fermentation and distillation technologies developed by a group of researchers at the Mariano Marcos State University-National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (MMSU-NBERIC). To ensure the quality and efficacy of the formulated product, the present study was set to explore the antibacterial potential of the locally formulated nipa disinfectant/antiseptic as an alternative alcohol formulation for possible use during the COVID-19 pandemic using standard microbiological assays. Susceptibility test revealed that at least 70% nipa alcohol formulations showed inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (6.25 mm and 4.25 mm zone of inhibitions). The 95% nipa alcohol concentration showed a bactericidal effect against Escherichia coli and S. aureus. High percent (%) bacterial cell reduction (90-99.9% log reduction) was observed when alcohol concentration and time increases. A confirmatory antimicrobial susceptibility test conducted by Philippine Department of Science and Technology, Microbiology Division reported that 95% nipa alcohol showed active inhibitory effect to test organisms while partial active observed in 70% nipa alcohol formulation. Glo-Germ Test revealed nipa disinfectant/antiseptic is as effective as commercial alcohol, thus, it can be utilized as an alternative intervention to prevent the spread of infectious microorganisms. The effectiveness of nipa disinfectant/antiseptic formulations is heightened with proper handwashing, strictly following proper hygiene, and health protocols. In conclusion, the formulated nipahol possesses the antibacterial potential to inhibit the multiplication of E. coli and S. aureus

PRE-TREATMENT AND ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF BANANA (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) PSEUDOSTEM FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION

Banana (M. acuminata x balbisiana) is an abundant lignocellulosic waste material in large plantations all over the Philippines, especially in Mindanao, which can be utilized as substrate in producing high-value products like ethanol. To compensate for the low yield based on total weight of substrate due to the high moisture content of banana pseudostem, there is the primary challenge to make the conversion of this lignocellulosic biomass into monomeric sugar and then into ethanol more efficiently in order to achieve yields that would make it cost-competitive. Hence, this study evaluated the effects of solid loading, incubation time and amount of enzyme on yield of reducing sugars in the enzymatic hydrolysis process and attempted to optimize the significant factors by Response Surface Methodology (RSM), specifically using Box-Behnken design. There was significant improvement on the reducing sugar yield of the pretreated banana pseudostem at 20 h incubation time, 15 g solid loading and 0.55 % enzyme concentration. Ethanol production was observed to be higher in the detoxified substrate although biomass was higher for the non-detoxified substrate. As to our knowledge, the present study is the first attempt to produce second generation ethanol using banana pseudostem waste as feedstock in the Philippines