Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Production of Alcohol

Production of Alcohol

Continuous fermentation is a key strategy in industrial ethanol production, particularly when efficiency, scalability, and high yields are essential. This approach allows for uninterrupted operation and optimized resource utilization. The primary feedstock, corn starch, undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis facilitated by α-amylase and glucoamylase. These enzymes break down the starch into fermentable sugars such as glucose, which are readily assimilated by fermentative microorganisms.Fermentation...

Batch vs Continuous Culture

Batch vs Continuous Culture

Fermentation is a foundational biotechnological process used to produce pharmaceuticals, biofuels, enzymes, and food additives. Among industrial strategies, batch and continuous fermentation are the two most widely applied. Although both rely on microbial conversion of substrates into desired products, they differ markedly in operation, productivity, and suitability for specific applications.Batch fermentation occurs in a closed system in which nutrient media and inoculum are added at the...

Bioreactor Controls-III

Bioreactor Controls-III

Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...

Fed-Batch Culture

Fed-Batch Culture

Fed-batch culture is a widely used bioprocessing strategy combining aspects of batch culture with controlled substrate feeding to optimize cell growth and product formation. In this semi-closed system, nutrients are strategically added during fermentation, while the accumulated products and biomass remain within the bioreactor until the end of the operation. This controlled addition of substrates allows for better management of growth kinetics, nutrient limitation, and metabolite...

Microbes in Beverage Production

Microbes in Beverage Production

Alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and spirits are the products of microbial fermentation processes that transform simple sugars into ethanol and a wide array of complex flavor compounds. These transformations rely on the metabolic activities of specific yeasts and bacteria, which are selected and controlled to yield the desired beverage characteristics.Wine Fermentation and MaturationWine production begins with the crushing of grapes to release juice and pulp, forming a must that is...

Scale-Up Processes

Scale-Up Processes

The scale-up of microbial fermentation processes is essential in industrial biotechnology, allowing the transition from laboratory-scale experiments to commercial-scale production while aiming to maintain product yield and quality. This process requires meticulous adjustment of equipment design, process parameters, and contamination control strategies to accommodate increasing culture volumes.At the laboratory scale, cultures are typically maintained in 1 to 10-liter glass or autoclavable...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

[Separation and purification of rat immature enamel proteins].

Hua xi kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Huaxi kouqiang yixue zazhi = West China journal of stomatology·2002

Same author

[Sensitivity and specificity of nested polymerase chain reaction in detecting Plasmodium vivax in infected mosquitoes].

Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases·2002

Same author

[Effect of dihydroquinghaosu on the development of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii in Anopheles stephensi].

Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases·2002

Same author

[The normal value and clinical applications of the blink reflex].

Zhonghua er bi yan hou ke za zhi·2002

Same author

Determination of acetone, 2-butanone, diethyl ketone and BTX using HSCC-UV-IMS.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2002

Same author

[Antimetastatic effects of arginine-aspartate on salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma in vitro].

Zhonghua kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Zhonghua kouqiang yixue zazhi = Chinese journal of stomatology·2002

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol

Published on: October 24, 2016

An innovative consecutive batch fermentation process for very high gravity ethanol fermentation with

F Li¹, X Q Zhao, X M Ge

¹Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, China.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

|May 29, 2009

Summary

A novel consecutive batch fermentation process for very high gravity (VHG) ethanol production was developed. This method utilizes self-flocculating yeast and high biomass concentration, significantly reducing fermentation time and enhancing economic viability.

More Related Videos

Light-Controlled Fermentations for Microbial Chemical and Protein Production

Light-Controlled Fermentations for Microbial Chemical and Protein Production

Published on: March 22, 2022

High Throughput Yeast Strain Phenotyping with Droplet-Based RNA Sequencing

High Throughput Yeast Strain Phenotyping with Droplet-Based RNA Sequencing

Published on: May 21, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol

Published on: October 24, 2016

Light-Controlled Fermentations for Microbial Chemical and Protein Production

Light-Controlled Fermentations for Microbial Chemical and Protein Production

Published on: March 22, 2022

High Throughput Yeast Strain Phenotyping with Droplet-Based RNA Sequencing

High Throughput Yeast Strain Phenotyping with Droplet-Based RNA Sequencing

Published on: May 21, 2020

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Industrial Microbiology
Biochemical Engineering

Background:

Traditional ethanol fermentation processes face challenges with long fermentation times and ethanol toxicity to yeast cells.
Very high gravity (VHG) fermentation offers higher ethanol concentrations but exacerbates these challenges.
Efficient yeast cell recovery and reuse are crucial for economic competitiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an innovative consecutive batch fermentation process for VHG ethanol production.
To optimize conditions using self-flocculating yeast and high biomass concentration.
To improve the economic feasibility of VHG ethanol fermentation through simplified downstream processing.

Main Methods:

Implementation of a consecutive batch fermentation strategy using self-flocculating yeast.
Operation under high biomass concentration conditions to enhance fermentation kinetics.
Utilizing yeast cell sedimentation for separation instead of energy-intensive centrifugation.
Fermentation of a VHG medium (255 g L(-1) glucose) for nine consecutive batches.

Main Results:

Fermentation cycles were completed within 8-14 hours.
Achieved an average ethanol concentration of 15% (v/v).
Obtained an average ethanol yield of 0.464 (90.8% of theoretical).
Reported an average ethanol productivity of 8.2 g L(-1) h(-1), including downstream processing time.

Conclusions:

The developed process significantly shortens VHG ethanol fermentation duration.
High biomass concentration improves yeast viability and reusability.
Sedimentation-based yeast separation offers a more cost-effective alternative to centrifugation.
This innovative approach enhances both efficiency and economic viability of VHG ethanol production.