Bioethanol and hand sanitizer production from sugar cane molasses to quickly respond to their local increasing demand towards COVID-19 pandemic.

A: Background This project intends to assess feasibility of producing Aloe vera-based hand sanitizers using bioethanol from sugar cane molasses and other vegetable by-products to mitigate Covid- 19 pandemic. By using hand sanitizer, it is a convenient way and less time consuming to ensuring hand hygiene which will lessen the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The requirement of hand sanitizers is expected to continue for an extended time. Thus, the ethanol availability has to be ensured in order to help people meet the demand for adequate hand hygiene. Because of Covid-19 pandemic the need for sanitizers is higher, yet availability is low or high cost. Yet the production of bioethanol from edible agricultural products may cause rise of cost of these crops leading to food insecurity. Bioethanol derived from agriculture waste, which is most abundant at global level, is the best option. B: Goals and Objectives The overarching goal of this research project is to assess feasibility of production, and operationalize a bioethanol plant and to develop Aloe vera-based hand sanitizers. Specific objectives: i To install and operationalize a bioethanol processing plant at NIRDA Research Center in Huye District; ii To initiate the bio-ethanol production from sugar cane molasses and other vegetable by-products for a standardized hand sanitizers production; iii To formulate Aloe vera-based hand sanitizers and conduct its efficacy and safety evaluation C: Methods and Materials We will initiate a bioethanol processing unit. The NIRDA ethanol pilot plant stopped after 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. A pilot plant was re-operated up to 2007. However, because of some important parts were completely damaged, NIRDA bioethanol production plant ceased its activities. We will use sugar cane molasses from Kabuye Sugar works, which are not valued and are regarded as by-products and considered as waste or simply used as source of energy. This molasses are important key materials for bioethanol production. The combination of Aloe vera gel with glycerol and propylene glycol at appropriate proportion will be used as humectant. The Aloe vera will be supplied by local cultivation companies and processed in NIRDA. Other excipients including: • The fermentative yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nutrients and citric acid for ethanol production • Carbomer powder which is used as clear gel thickner, emulsion stabilizer and suspending agent • Glycerol which is used as humectant, moisturizing, emollient, skin softening. Skin repairing, prevent skin barrier from drying • Methyl paraben, methyl/Propyl parahydroxybenzoate which is used as antimicrobial agent designed for preservation of a wide range of cosmetics, toiletriess and topical pharmaceuticals. • Triethanolamine which is used as pH adjuster The Procedure will be as follows: • We will use molasses from the tanks diluted with water to obtain the sugar concentration around 10-15%, • We will use a yeast culture tank, with nutrition supply of ammonium and magnesium phosphate or sulfate, • We will use diluted and treated molasses and the yeast from storage fed to the fermentation chamber, • Fermentation takes around 30-70 hours based on the pH, temperature and sugar concentration • The rectification process will be used to produce 95% ethanol Activities and Milestones Some of planned activities in the project are following as shown at Fig 1 below: • Organization of first research meeting • Conducting the technical Audit by planning & monitoring team • Preparation of MoU and contracts for equipment, excipients and raw material acquisition • Aloe vera planting materials acquisition • Bioethanol formulation from sugar cane molasses • Aloe vera gel-based hand sanitizer formulation D: Expected outcomes The expected outcomes are the following: • Bioethanol processing plant installed and operationalized; • Bioethanol with pharmaceutical grade produced; • Aloe vera-based hand sanitizers formulated and produced