Selection of inoculum size and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for ethanol production in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of sugar cane bagasse

The aim of this work was to select an inoculum concentration and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for ethanol production in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of sugar cane bagasse. Three concentrations of inoculum (0.4, 4.0 and 8.0 g/L) and two strains of S. cerevisiae (UFPEDA 1238 and UFPEDA 1334) were used to ferment a culture medium containing glucose as the carbon source (100 g/L). Ethanol production was lower with 0.4 g/L inoculum, independent of the strain used. Experiments with 4.0 and 8.0 g/L inoculum showed no growth and higher ethanol production. Maximum ethanol concentration was obtained with UFPEDA 1238 and 8.0 g/L inoculum concentration. These conditions were selected for ethanol production from sugar cane bagasse in SSF. Maximum ethanol concentration was attained with SSF (28 g/L), enzymatic convertibility of cellulose (76%) and volumetric productivity (0.93 g/L h).Keywords: Ethanol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, inoculum, efficiency.African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(27) 2762-276