Simultaneous Saccharification and Co-Fermentation (SSCF) has been recognized as a feasible option for ethanol production from xylose-rich lignocellulosic materials. To improve ethanol production, we have developed each processes such as pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation and integrated the processes.
Commercial production of cellulosic ethanol by yeast requires the strains that can ferment both hexose and pentose sugars and have sufficient tolerance to the inhibitors in pretreated Napier grass, such as acetic acid and furfural.
In this study, efficient SSCF processes were developed with S. cerevisiae, which was engineered to improve tolerance to inhibitors by genetic and evolutionary engineering. After optimizing the conditions of pretreatment and fermentation, 50g/L ethanol was produced in a 90L fermenter under the condition of 15%(w/w) substrate loading.