Ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation employing the reuse of yeast and enzyme

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) experiments were carried out with a lignocellulosic biomass. The effects of temperature on enzymatic saccharification and the ethanol fermentation were also investigated. The batch SSF process gave a final ethanol concentration of 10.44 g/l and equivalent glucose yield of 0.55 g/g, which was increased by 67% or higher over the saccharification at 42°C. The optimal operating condition was found to vary in several parameters, such as the transmembrane pressure, permeation rate, and separation coefficient, related to the SSF combined with membrane system (semi-batch system). When the fermentation was operated in a semi-batch mode, the efficiency of the enzymes and yeast lasted three times longer than in a batch mode.