Velásquez-Arredondo et al (2010) [37] produced
ethanol from the hydrolysis of starch, cellulosic
and hemi cellulosic material present in the banana
fruit or its residual biomass. Four different
production routes were analyzed: acid hydrolysis
of amylaceous material (banana pulp and banana
fruit) and enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic
material (flower stalk and banana skin). The
analysis considered banana plant cultivation, feed
stock transport, hydrolysis, fermentation,
distillation, dehydration, residue treatment and
utility plant. The best indexes were obtained for
amylaceous material for which mass performance
varied from 346.5L/t to 388.7L/t; Net Energy Value
(NEV) ranged from 9.86MJ/L to 9.94MJ/L and the
energy ratio was 1.9MJ/MJ. For lignocellulosic
materials, the figures were less favorable; mass
performance varied from 86.1 to 123.5L/t, NEV
from 5.24 to 8.79MJ/L and energy ratio from 1.3 to
1.6MJ/MJ. The analysis however showed that both
processes can be considered energetically feasible.