Elimination of ethanol inhibition of yeast growth by a multistream ethanol feed in a multistage tower fermenter

Abstract The effect of several types of ethanol feed into a multistage tower fermenter, under conditions of oxygen supply rate limitation, on growth and physiological activity of the yeast Candida utilis was studied. The measurements were made at steady states of continuous culture for single values of dilution rate, temperature and pH in all stages of the fermenter and with a constant total sum of ethanol supplied. It was found that the type of ethanol feed significantly affects both the economic parameters associated with biomass production and the cell physiology in the individual stages of the fermenter.