Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Apple Pomace

Abstract

Apple pomace is a complex, carbohydrate-rich by-product of apple juice production and an interesting raw material for the production of platform chemicals such as ethanol and acetic acid. By simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, the pomace was degraded to 82 %. In the fermentation medium, the ethanol concentration was ∼5.7 vol %, which allows an economical further processing of the ethanol. Tank sediment (sludge) and accompanying substances (sorted out biomass) are also available for fermentative utilization, with acetic acid as the preferred product. The N-rich tank sediment can replace part of the required tap water and makes the addition of micronutrients unnecessary.