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Updated: May 29, 2026

Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
Cell recycling during repeated very high gravity bio-ethanol fermentations using the industrial Saccharomyces
Francisco B Pereira1, Daniel G Gomes, Pedro M R Guimarães
1IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. franciscopereira@deb.uminho.pt
Abstract:
A very high gravity (VHG) repeated-batch fermentation system using an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PE-2 (isolated from sugarcane-to-ethanol distillery in Brazil) and mimicking industrially relevant conditions (high inoculation rates and low O(2) availability) was successfully operated during fifteen consecutive fermentation cycles, attaining ethanol at 17.1 ± 0.2% (v/v) with a batch productivity of 3.5 ± 0.04 g l(-1) h(-1). Moreover, this innovative operational strategy (biomass refreshing step) prevented critical decreases on yeast viability levels and promoted high accumulation of intracellular glycerol and trehalose, which can provide an adaptive advantage to yeast cells under harsh industrial environments. This study contributes to the improvement of VHG fermentation processes by exploring an innovative operational strategy that allows attaining very high ethanol titres without a critical decrease of the viability level thus minimizing the production costs due to energy savings during the distillation process.
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