Fuel Ethanol Production from Lignocellulosic Sugars

Fermentation studies of ethanol production from lignocellulosic sugars using the genetically engineered Saccharomyces yeast 1400 (pLNH33) and its parent Saccharomyces yeast strain 1400 are reported. While the parent strain 1400 is unable to ferment xylose, the recombinant yeast 1400 (pLNH33) ferments xylose and mixtures of glucose and xylose. High ethanol yields upto 84% were obtained by fermentation of glucose-xylose mixtures using the recombinant yeast. The kinetics of ethanol inhibition of yeast cell growth on glucose and xylose are presented. Results of ethanol production from corn fiber and corn cob by the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process are also reported.