CONTINUOUS ETHANOL-PRODUCTION FROM NONSTERILIZED CAROB POD EXTRACT BYIMMOBILIZED SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE ON MINERAL KISSIRIS USING A 2-REACTOR SYSTEM

The continuous production of ethanol from nonsterilized carob pod extr act by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae on mineral kissiris using one- and two-reactor systems has been investigated. A maximum ethanol productivity of 9.6 g/L/h was obtained at an initial sugar concentrati on of 200 g/L and D = 0.4 h(-1) with 68% of theoretical yield and 34% of sugar utilization using the one-reactor system. At So = 200 g/L, D = 0.05 h(-1), 83% of theoretical yield, and 64% of sugar utilization, an ethanol productivity of 2.6 g/L/h was achieved. In the two-reactor system, a maximum ethanol productivity of 11.4 g/L/h was obtained at S -0 = 200 g/L and D = 0.4 h(-1) with 68.5% of theoretical yield and 41. 5% of sugar utilization. The two-reactor system was operated at a cons tant dilution rate of 0.3 h(-1) for 60 d without loss of the original immobilized yeast activity. In this case, the average ethanol producti vity, ethanol yield (% of theoretical), and sugar utilization were 10. 7 g/L/h, 71.5%, and 48%, respectively.