Influence of surface characteristics of cellulose carriers on ethanol production by immobilized yeast cells

Ethanol production was carried out by growing yeast cells immobilized on po rous cellulose carriers. The effects of the chemical modification of cellul ose carriers on cell immobilization and ethanol production were examined wi th respect to ion-exchange capacity and chemical structure. The ion-exchang e capacity of 0.1 meq/g-carriers had no effect on immobilization but affect ed ethanol production by repeated batch cultures using immobilized yeast ce lls. Diethylaminoethyl was a suitable function group for immobilization and ethanol production. Ethanol productivity of the 10th batch cycle with diet hylaminoethyl cellulose carriers was 23% greater than that of the first bat ch cycle. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.