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Continuous 2G ethanol production from xylose in a fixed-bed reactor by native Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain through simultaneous isomerization and fermentation

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Abstract

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most used microorganism for ethanol production, however, on its wild form it cannot assimilate xylose. The previous ex-vivo isomerization of xylose to xylulose catalyzed by the enzyme xylose isomerase (XI) is an alternative to overcome this limitation. The present work evaluated continuous 2G ethanol production through xylose simultaneous isomerization and fermentation (SIF) using xylose isomerase co-immobilized with yeast. From the initial studies carried out with five different industrial S. cerevisiae strains, Itaiquara® baker´s yeast was selected due to its good performance in terms of ethanol yield (0.34 g/g) and productivity (2.1 g/L/h) having xylose as a carbon source. Continuous xylose SIF in a fixed-bed reactor was run for 7 days with high values of ethanol yield (0.37 g/g) and productivity (1.9 g/L/h). The operation for longer periods could be possible upon implementing strategies for pH and contamination control, showing great progress to achieve a feasible industrial 2G ethanol production process.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Grants #2008/56246-0 and 2016/10636-8, and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for their financial support. This work was in part financed by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil (CAPES)—Finance code 001. The authors are also grateful to DuPontTM Genencor® (USA) for the donation of xylose isomerase, Quimica Real (Brazil) for the donation of Kamoran®, CTC for the donation of sugarcane bagasse and Prof. Andreas K. Gombert (UNICAMP) for the donation of the industrial yeasts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Thais S. Milessi, Roberto C. Giordano, Raquel L. C. Giordano & Teresa C. Zangirolami

  2. Intitute of Natural Resources, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Av. Benedito Pereira dos Santos, 1303, Itajubá, MG, 37500-903, Brazil

    Thais S. Milessi

  3. Graduate Program of Energy Engineering, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Av. Benedito Pereira dos Santos, 1303, Itajubá, MG, 37500-903, Brazil

    Thais S. Milessi

  4. Graduate Program of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos (PPEQ-UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Cláudia R. Silva, Guilherme S. Moraes, Patricia M. Aquino, Roberto C. Giordano, Raquel L. C. Giordano & Teresa C. Zangirolami

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  1. Thais S. Milessi
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  2. Cláudia R. Silva
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Milessi, T.S., Silva, C.R., Moraes, G.S. et al. Continuous 2G ethanol production from xylose in a fixed-bed reactor by native Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain through simultaneous isomerization and fermentation. Cellulose 27, 4429–4442 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03108-7

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