Ethanol Production by Zymomonas mobilis CHZ2501 from Industrial Starch Feedstocks

The optimal conditions of ethanol fermentation process by Zymomonas mobilis CHZ2501 were investigated. Brown rice, naked barley, and cassava were selected as representatives of the starch-based raw material commercially available for ethanol production. Considering enzyme used for saccharification of starch, the ethanol productivity with complex enzyme was higher than glucoamylase. With regards to the conditions of saccharification, the final ethanol productions of simultaneous saccharification and pre-saccharified process for 1 h were not significantly different. The result suggested that it is possible for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation as a cost-effective process for ethanol production by eliminating the separate saccharification. Additionally, the fermentation rate in early fermentation stage was generally increased with increase of inoculum volume. As the result, optimal condition for ethanol production was simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with complex enzyme and 5% inoculation. Under the same condition, the volumetric productivities; and ethanol yields were attained to 3.26 g/L.h and 93.5% for brown rice, 2.62 g/L.h and 90.4% for naked barley, and 3.28 g/L.h and 93.7% for cassava, respectively. (C) KSBB