ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION BY AGAR-IMMOBILIZED YEAST-CELLS

Immobilized yeast cells in agar gel beads were used in a packed bed re actor far the production of ethanol from cane molasses at 30 degrees C , pH 4.5. The maximum productivity, 79.5 g ethanol/l.h was obtained wi th 195 g/l reducing sugar as feed. Substrate (64.2%) was utilized at a dilution of 1.33 h(-1). The immobilized cell reactor was operated con tinuously at a constant dilution rate of 0.67 h(-1) for 100 days. The maximum specific ethanol productivity and specific sugar uptake rate w ere 0.610 g ethanol/g cell.h and 1.275 g sugar/g cell.h, respectively.