Monday, July 25, 2011
Grand Ballroom, 5th fl (Sheraton New Orleans)
Microbial production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass involves the enzymatic breakdown of lignocellulosic biomass to sugars followed by the conversion of sugars to ethanol. Microbial degradation of lignocellulosic biomass primarily yields glucose and xylose. Commonly isolated yeast strains like Saccharomyces species can efficiently convert glucose to ethanol, whereas only a few yeasts such as Pichia sp. can convert xylose to ethanol. In an effort to isolate and characterize yeasts that can ferment xylose to ethanol, soil-decaying biomass composite samples and fruits were collected from several sites in Alabama, and xylose-utilizing microbes were enriched in xylose medium. Several xylose-utilizing yeasts were isolated and selected isolates are under evaluation for ethanol production in high xylose medium. Fermentation process optimization for enhanced ethanol production, yield efficiency and strain stability will be discussed.