Remediation of ethanol fermentation recycle water stream using biologically charged exchange column

Traditional ethanol fermentation commonly requires a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cervesiae, which metabolizes six-carbon sugars in the creation of ethanol. However, desired microbial growth may be inhibited by anions, glycerol and organic acids. Inhibition could result in reduced viable cells and decreased ethanol titer. Process recycle streams may inadvertently return inhibitors, such as organic acids and anions back to a viable ethanol fermentation. Complex, mucilaginous, polymeric structures composed of saccharides and proteins (biofilms) may be both negatively and positively charged; this polarity may aid in the ionic bonding of inhibitory salts within solutions. In this experiment, a biologically charged resin was used to increase the efficiency of a resin column.