Improving bio-ethanol yield: Using virginiamycin and sodium flouride at a Pakistani distillery

Abstract

Bacterial contamination is a major problem in bio-fuel production industry; whether from molasses or corn. To improve ethanol yield at industrial scale fermentation, virginiamycin and sodium fluoride was tested. Virginiamycin gave maximum efficiency at 2 ppm and increased the alcohol level to about 1% in fermenters with the reduction of sulfuric acid consumption. By doing cost benefit analysis, it has been shown that use of this antibiotic saved a lot of money for the distillery industry. © 2011 Academic Journals.