Enhanced ethanol production at commercial scale from molasses using high gravity technology by mutant S. cerevisiae

Very high gravity (VHG) technology was employed on industrial scale to produce ethanol from molasses (fermented) as well as by-products formation estimation. The effect of different Brix degrees(32, 36 and 40) air-flow rates (0.00, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.60 vvm) was studied on ethanol production. The maximum ethanol production was recorded to be 12.2% (v/v) at 40 Brix degrees with 0.2 vvm air-flow rate. At optimum level aeration and 40 Brix degrees HG, the residual sugar level was recorded in the range of 12.518.5 g/L, whereas the viable cell count remained constant up to 50 h of fermentation and dry matter production increased with fermentation time. Both water and steam consumption reduced significantly under optimum conditions of Brix degrees and aeration rate with compromising the ethanol production. Results revealed VHG with continuous air flow is viable technique to reduce the ethanol production cost form molasses at commercial scale. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.