Production of fuel ethanol from softwood by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation at high dry matter content

Abstract

Background: The production of bio-ethanol from softwood is considered a promising alternative to fossil fuels in Sweden. In order to make fuel ethanol economically competitive with fossil fuels, it is important to reduce the production cost, which can be done by increasing the dry matter content of the fermentation medium, thus reducing the energy demand in the final distillation of the fermentation broth. Running simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at higher dry matter content has, however, been found to decrease the ethanol yield. Results: The use of different stirrer types and stirring speeds in the present study has shown to have an influence on the final ethanol yield in SSF with 10% water-insoluble solids (WIS). Also, higher concentration of pretreatment hydrolysate, i.e., with increased inhibitor concentration, at the same WIS resulted in a decreased ethanol yield. However, despite stirring problems and high inhibitor concentration, ethanol was produced at 12% WIS with an ethanol yield in the SSF step of 81% of the theoretical based on the content of fermentable sugars in the fermentor. Conclusion: The decrease in ethanol yield in SSF at high dry matter content has been shown to be a combined effect of increased mass transfer resistance and increased inhibitor concentration in the fermentation broth. © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.