• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 1989

The optimum conditions for ethanol fermentation and ethanol productivity of the fusant ESC-14-15 were examined in a mini-jar formentor scale (working volume : 2.5 liters) to assess the possibility of practical application. Addition of yeast extract to fermentation broth greatly enhanced the ethanol productivity and shortened the period of fermentation. The pH 4.2 was more favorable than pH 5.5 with respect to ethanol productivity and fermentation speed. The optimum concentration of liquefied potato starch for ethanol fermentation of FSC-14-15 was 15%(w/v) and the corresponding productivity was 8.7%(v/v) of ethanol with an efficiency of 80.6% to the theoretical maximum. When the fresh fermentation broth containing 20% of liquefied potato starch was inoculated with love(v/v) of inoculum, the fusant FSC-14-75 produced 11.0%(v/v) of ethanol in 4 days, which is considered comparable to that from an industrial process. From the liquefied cassava starch or the equal mixture of liquefied barley and sweet potato starch prepared according to the same method as in the industrial process except saccharification step, the fusnnt FSC-14-75 produced 8.5%(v/v) or 7.6%(v/v) of ethanol in 4 days, respectively.