High efficiency ethanol fermentation by entrapment of Zymomonas mobilis into LentiKats®

Aims: To examine the potential of Zymomonas mobilis entrapped into polyvinylalcohol (PVA) lens-shaped immobilizates in batch and continuous ethanol production. Methods and Results: Cells, free or immobilized in PVA hydrogel-based lens-shaped immobilizates - LentiKats(R), were cultivated on glucose medium in a 1 l bioreactor. In comparison with free cell cultivation, volumetric productivity of immobilized batch culture was nine times higher (43.6 g l(-1) h(-1)). The continuously operated system did not improve the efficiency (volumetric productivity of the immobilized cells 30.7 g l(-1) h(-1)). Conclusions: We demonstrated Z. mobilis capability, entrapped into LentiKats(R), in the cost-efficient batch system of ethanol production. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results reported here emphasize the potential of bacteria in combination with suitable fermentation technology in industrial scale. The innovation compared with traditional systems is characterized by excellent long-term stability, high volumetric productivity and other technological advantages.