Boosting Ethanol Fermentation with Carbon Dot Nanozyme

Ethanol fermentation has long faced challenges in achieving high fermentation quality. Targeted regulation of the fermentation quality using natural enzymes could effectively address this issue. However, natural enzymes are often highly costly and difficult to control for industrial applications. In this study, the carbon dot nanozyme (CD-NZ) was first developed as a promising alternative for regulating the production of ethanol during fermentation. CD-NZ exhibited catalase-like (CAT-like) and superoxide dismutase (SOD-like) activities, effectively lowering reactive oxygen species (ROS) in yeast under stress conditions. Moreover, CD-NZ demonstrated an ultrafast electron transfer rate of 1.234 ns, showcasing its potential for large-scale applications. At a concentration of 50 μg/mL, CD-NZ significantly boosted ethanol production by 22.90% and total ester production by 32.01%. Metabolomic analysis revealed enhanced fruity and floral flavors, and metagenomic shifts indicated changes in microbial communities that promoted ester and alcohol production. Importantly, the cost-effectiveness of CD-NZ, combined with its efficiency in improving fermentation performance, makes it a potentially sustainable and economically viable approach for industrial ethanol production. This work highlights the potential of CD-NZ for optimizing ethanol fermentation processes and enhancing product quality.