Journal of Biotechnology, Computational Biology and Bionanotechnology RESEARCH PAPER Structural changes of corn starch during fuel ethanol production from corn flour

The key factor in production of fuel ethanol by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation is the efficient con-version of granular starch into ethanol. Most difficult stage in the process is the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch granules. Their supramolecular structure as well as crystallinity and presence of complexing agents are key fac-tors for the hydrolysis process. The aim of the study was to examine structural changes in starch granules during the simultaneous processes of saccharification and fermentation of corn flour in the long-term repeated Simulta-neous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) process with complete recycling of the stillage liquid fraction. The SSF experiments were performed using corn flour as a raw material, the STARGEN 001 preparation as a hydro-lytic enzyme, and Red Star Ethanol Red (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) fermentation yeasts. Residual starch struc-ture after the 4th, and the 7th operation cycle was examined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffracto-metry, IR spectroscopy as well as gel permeation chromatography. In spite of accumulating glycerol, organic acids and inorganic ions in the fermentation broth, the repeated batch SSF process, with stillage recycling into the fer-mentation phase conducted on corn flour with the use of the STARGEN 001 enzyme preparation, was found to run efficiently. The amount of unhydrolyzed residual starch was independent of the number of operation cycles. Hydrolysis of starch resulted in the formation of porous granules and a small amount of undigested granules an