Improved ethanol production from various carbohydrates through anaerobic thermophilic co-culture

► Clostridium themocellum/Clostridium thermolacticum co-culture promises to be an efficient way to convert lignocellulosics into ethanol. ► The co-culture shortens the lag time of fermentation for 48 h as compared to mono-cultures. ► pH = 9 is necessary to obtain maximum ethanol yield for co-culture fermentations. ► Higher pH is required for applying this co-culture on native aspen due to the acetyl groups present. ► The positive effect of initial ethanol on ethanol production reaches a maximum at 4 g/L of initial ethanol.