Hamzah Fansuri, Wardayu Puspita, Askur Rahman, Fifi Nurfiana, Waringin Margi Yusmaman, Rama Oktavian, Renanto Handogo, Hanny Frans Sangian, Hakun Wirawasista Aparamarta, Mojiono Mojiono
Cassava is a widely cultivated, economically accessible tropical crop that has gained attention not only as a food staple but also as a promising feedstock for bioethanol production. This study explored the application of γ-irradiation as a nuclear-based alternative or complement to conventional enzymatic hydrolysis in cassava bioethanol conversion. Two processing pathways were compared across irradiation doses of 0, 50, and 100 kGy: a direct fermentation–distillation pathway without hydrolysis (FD), and a sequential hydrolysis–fermentation–distillation pathway (HFD). Results showed that γ-irradiation alone could not adequately replace hydrolysis, as the FD treatments yielded only 0.10–0.11 g sugar/g sample with negligible ethanol output. In contrast, combining irradiation with hydrolysis substantially improved process performance; the HFD treatments achieved ethanol yields of 0.20–0.25 g/g sugar and concentrations of 62% (v/v). Moreover, the combined treatments (50HFD and 100HFD) reduced fermentation time from 72 hr to approximately 12–24 hr. These findings indicate that γ-irradiation functions most effectively as a synergistic pretreatment rather than a standalone process. To our knowledge, this is the first study to directly compare γ-irradiation-only and γ-irradiation-plus-hydrolysis pathways in cassava bioethanol production, identifying 50 kGy as an optimal irradiation dose. © 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Department of Agroindustrial Technology, University of Trunodjoyo Madura, Bangkalan, Indonesia; Department of Food Technology, University of Trunodjoyo Madura, Bangkalan, Indonesia; Department of Nuclear Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology, Sleman, Indonesia; Directorate for Laboratory Management, Research Facilities, and Science and Technology Park, National Research and Innovation Agency, Sleman, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia; Department of Physics, University of Sam Ratulangi, Manado, Indonesia
