Bioethanol fermentation: The path forward for eco-friendly and sustainable development

Bioenergy reformation through fermentation has achieved considerable attention with the advent of global climatic change, population rise, the uncertainty of non-renewable sources, and high demand for alternative fuel. Bioethanol, the most potent fermented transportation fuel, due to its less carbon-dioxide emissions, renewable, and several environmental benefits can substitute fossil dependent fuels with the global rise in production from 120 billion liters (2016) to 137 billion liters (2026). The core of bioethanol production depends upon fermentation, in which simple sugars are fermented by a variety of microorganisms to bioethanol. Various renewable biomasses like agricultural wastes, industrial wastes, and algal-based raw materials are used for bioethanol production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most availed yeast used for industrial fermentation. Up to 2-5% of the gasoline-ethanol blend can be used without engine modification, and this accounts for the necessity of production of huge quantities of bioethanol. This chapter focuses on the economic feasibility and environmental viability of bioethanol production.