Biotechnological aspects of ethanol biosynthesis from Miscanthus

The study demonstrates that Saccharomyces cerevisiae VKPM Y-1693 yeast is resistant to the aqueous enzymatic Miscanthus hydrolysate. The good morphophysiological condition of the yeast indicates that the media contain no detrimental impurities characteristic of acidic chemical hydrolysates. It is shown that the native active acidity of the hydrolysate (pH 4.5–4.7) is optimal for ethanol biosynthesis from enzymatic Miscanthus cellulose hydrolysate. An addition of 1% yeast extract makes the aqueous enzymatic Miscanthus cellulose hydrolysate medium complete. Under the conditions of batch fermentation, it is sufficient to introduce 10% yeast inoculum in the log phase of growth. As shown by gas-liquid chromatography, the enzymatic digestion of Miscanthus cellulose produces ethanol with low contents of esters and fusel oils. Miscanthus bioethanol the contains no methanol.