Ethanol production from AFEX pretreated corn fiber by recombinant bacteria

• Published in: Biotechnology letters Vol. 18; no. 8; pp. 985 - 990
• Main Authors: MONIRUZZZAMAN, M, DIEN, B. S, FERRER, B, HESPELL, R. B, DALE, B. E, INGRAM, L. O, BOTHAST, R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.1996
• Subjects: Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Energy; Escherichia coli; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Klebsiella oxytoca; Recombinant microorganism; Monocotyledones; Zea mays; Ethanol; Escherichia coli; Plant fiber; Biofuel; Fermentation; Substrate; Klebsiella oxytoca; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Production; Bacteria; Spermatophyta; Corn by product; Pretreatment; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0141-5492; 1573-6776
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00154635

Genetically engineered Escherichia coli strains SL40 and KO11 and Klebsiella oxytoca strain P2 were used in a set of experiments investigating the fermentation of an enzymatic hydrolyzate of ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) pretreated corn fiber. The corn fibers contained a variety of different sugars, such as glucose, xylose, arabinose, and galactose. The tests were conducted under conditions of strict pH control. Both of the strains of E. coli used most o the sugars contained in the AFEX retreated corn fibers. The SL40 strain produced a maximum of 26.6 g/l ethanol, which was equivalent to 90% of the theoretical yield value. The KO11 strain produced a maximum of 27.1 g/l ethanol, equivalent to 92% of the theoretical yield. The K. oxytoca strain yielded poor performance.