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This research was aimed at bio-ethanol production by fungi capable of producing cellulases and to
convert pre-treated lingo-cellulosic material to fermentable sugars. The lingo-cellulosic material such as
sugarcane bagasses, sugarcane leaves, rice husk or wheat bran were used as substrates. Fungi were
isolated from soil samples collected from various regions. The pure cultures were screened for the ability
to degrade cellulose. The fungi capable of cellulose production were identified as Trichoderma sp based
on colony characters, microscopic observation and identification. The substrates were powdered and
pretreated with fungal isolates using Mandels’ and Reese media. The substrates were used as a carbon
source. Then optimization studies were carried out by using five bio-mass substrates at different pH,
temperature and incubation period. Analysis was done by using Gas Chromatography. Sugarcane
bagasses, Juice waste, Rice husk, Wheat bran, and Dry leaves were treated with Trichoderma isolates.
Sugarcane bagasse and juice waste have shown highest concentration of reducing sugars of 45.95 mg/g
and 40.56 mg/g respectively and ethanol yield of 51.15 % and 46.5 % respectively. Dry leaves, Wheat
bran and Rice husk have shown less reducing sugars of 33.32 mg/g, 30.32 mg/g, and 29.45 mg/g and
ethanol yield 11.1 %, 7.15 %, and 6 % respectively as compared with sugarcane bagasse and juice waste.
Key words: Biodegradation, Bio-ethanol, Trichoderma sp fungi, Ligno-celluloses substrates, Cellulase, Gas Chromatography.