Comparative analysis of the kinetic growth parameters and ethanol production in non-Saccharomyces yeasts at the bioreactor level using Agave cupreata juice

The mezcal production in the state of Michoacan, located in central Mexico, is considered an informal activity with little to no regulation. Therefore, the object of this study was to analyze fermentation using a variety of yeast strains at the bioreactor level in order to establish statistical differences in the production of ethanol and biomass. Kluyveromyces marxianus, Zygosaccharomyces bailli, Zygosaccharomyces rouxi, Pichia kluyveri and Isstchenkia terricola were added to Agave cupreata juice to carry out the fermentation process, it was placed in a bioreactor. Throughout this process, samples were taken every four hours in order to measure biomass, ethanol production, acetic acid, reducing sugars, glucose, fructose, pH, and cell growth. The yeasts studied had a significant ethanol production (50.16, 35.52, 36.37, 41.67 and 47.87 g/L, respectivaly). P. kluyveri biomass yield was 0.13 g/g, which indicates that it has great potential for the industrial production of ethanol using Agave cupreata juice.