**3.3 Production of bio-ethanol from rice husk**

Prior to the production of bio-ethanol, the rice was treated to confirm the presence of starch. Paddy rice was milled sieved and the residue was collected and weighed. 2cm3 of sample was measured from the bulk sample and transferred into the test tube. Potassium iodide reagent was then added drop wise into the sample in the test tube and stirred until colour was changed from yellow to black, which confirm the presence of starch. 500g of the husk was collected and soaked in 750cm3 of water for a period of 24 hours after which it was filtered with the aid of a filter cloth, 600cm3 of the filtrate was collected and made up to 1000cm3 with boiled water, the mixture was stirred continuously to avoid formation of lumps, it was then allowed to cool and on cooling, a thick-jelly mass was formed, gelatinized mixture was then poured into a 2000cm3 flask for hydrolysis. 200cm3 of 0.5m potassium hydroxide was added to the sample and immersed in the water bath for hydrolysis and the temperature was maintained at 75oC for 60 minutes. 100cm3 of 50% ethanoic acid was then added to serve as a terminator of the hydrolysis reaction after which the mixture was set aside to cool. 4cm3 of hydrolyzed sample, , few drops of Fehling's solution was added in a conical flask and heated, colour change was observed and recorded, sample changes to brick red precipitate, which confirm the presence of simple sugars.
