Extensive studies attempting to develop bioethanol from various types of lignocellulosic biomass have
been carried out because they are renewable and abundant. An example of such a major lignocellulosic biomass
available in Malaysia is empty fruit bunches (EFB) which are generated during the palm oil milling process. In
2012, the annual production of EFB was estimated to be 7.4 million tonnes from nearly 440 palm oil mills over
an oil palm planted area of 5.08 million ha [1]. This implies that EFB is available abundantly and is likely to be
a potential intermediate for the production of liquid fuel i.e. bioethanol; an alternative fuel to gasoline. In fact,
bioethanol can be an oxygenated fuel to increase its oxygen content, causing better hydrocarbon oxidation and
mitigating greenhouse gases than gasoline