Author(s): Minoru Nagashima, Masaki Azuma, Sadao Noguchi and Keiichi Inuzuka
Article publication date: 1984-03-01
Vol. 2 No. 1 (yearly), pp. 288-315.
DOI:
121

Keywords

alcohol, microbial cells, yeast

Abstract

Growing cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in calcium alginate gel beads was employed in fluidized-bed reactors for continuous ethanol production from cane molasses and various sugar sources. Some improvements were also made against microbial contamination and for the maintenance of yeast viability for a stable long run operation. A pilot plant of 4 KL total column volume was constructed and it was affirmed that 8.5 v/v% alcohol was constantly produced from diluted cane molasses for over three months. The productivity of this process was estimated at 0.6 KL ethanol/KL -fermentor, day with 95% of conversion yield against theoretical value.