Characterization of Ethanol Fermentation Using Alginate Immobilized Thermotolerant Yeast Cells

To enhance the hyperproductive and low energy-consuming ethanol fermentation rate, the thermotolerant yeast S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 cells were immobilized. An efficient immobilization condition was proved to be $1.5{\%}$ (w/v) alginate solution, neutral pH and 20 h activation of beads. The fermentation characteristics and stability at various temperatures were examined as compared with free S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 cells. The immobilized cells had excellent fermentation rate at the range of pH 3-7 at 30-$42^{\circ}C$ in 15-$20{\%}$ glucose media. When the seed volume was adjusted to 0.12 (v/v) (6ml bead/50 ml medium), $11{\%}$ (w/v) ethanol was produced during the first 34 hand $12.15{\%}$ (w/v) ethanol [$95{\%}$ (w/v) of theoretical yield] during the first 60 h in $25{\%}$ glucose medium. In repetitive fermentation using a 2 litre fermentor, 5.79-$7.27{\%}$ (w/v) ethanol [76-$95{\%}$ (w/v) of theoretical yield] was produced during the 40-55 h in $15{\%}$ glucose media. These data suggested the fact that alginate beads of thermotolerant S. cerevisiae RA-74-2 cells would contribute to economic and hyperproductive ethanol fermentation at high temperature.