Evaluating the Potentials of Banana and Plantain Peels for Biofuel Production in Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the potentials of banana and plantain peel as feedstock for biofuel production. The proximate and mineral composition of banana and plantain peel were determined using the AOAC method. Bacteria were isolated from dried banana and plantain peel using the standard microbiological method. The proximate composition of the two biomass showed a high concentration of carbohydrate content at 68.12 and 68.30% for banana and plantain peels. While a high amount of sodium (Na) at 119.17 and 106.67 mg/kg from banana and plantain peels. Three (3) bacterial genera were isolated namely Bacillus circulans, Bacillus brevis and Bacillus pumilu. This study showed the potential of banana and plantain peels biomass for the production of fermentable sugar which can be further fermented to biofuel.