An integrative process for bio-ethanol production employing SSF produced cellulase without extraction

• Whole fermented matter was equally potent to extracted cellulase for hydrolyzing biomass.
• Ethanol yield was similar using either extracted cellulase or fermented matter.
• Single vessel process for ethanol production could be a cost effective alternative.

Bio-ethanol production from pretreated biomass in a single vessel was investigated in which cellulase production via SSF by Penicillium janthinellum EMS-UV-8, hydrolysis of biomass and ethanol fermentation was carried out sequentially. In this study, feasibility of using whole fermented matter with enzyme, fungal mycelia, spores and residual substrate, for the saccharification of pretreated wheat straw or avicel and its further fermentation to ethanol was investigated. Whole fermented matter produced during cellulase production via solid-state fermentation and extracted cellulase was compared for hydrolysis efficiency toward cellulosic biomass. Ethanol fermentation by Kluveromyces marxianus MTCC 4136 was investigated for both the above cases and no significant difference was observed. We could obtain similar titers of ethanol by both methods. Employing the whole fermented matter offered advantages over using extracted enzyme by reducing enzyme extraction step and thereby reducing economic constraint.

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