Efficient bioethanol production from pomegranate peels by newly isolated Kluyveromyces marxianus

The usage of pomegranate peel (PP) which is value added by-product was investigated in this current study for bioethanol production by Kluyveromyces marxianus. Some important parameters such as initial PP loading (50, 100, 150 g/L), effect of different nitrogen sources (yeast extract-peptone and (NH4)(2)SO4), and mineral salts (K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+) on bioethanol production of K. marxianus was examined. Bioethanol yield was increased up 18.03% when the nitrogen sources and mineral salts were supplemented to the 100 g/L PP-containing medium. The highest ethanol concentration was obtained as 7.20 g/L when the theoretical ethanol yield was 83.1%. This work demonstrates that K. marxianus is a promising agent for bioethanol production from PP.