Bioethanol production from wheat straw via enzymatic route employing Penicillium janthinellum cellulases

• P. janthinellum EMS-UV-8 produces all the cellulase components required for biomass hydrolysis.
• P. janthinellum cellulase was evaluated for applications in SSF and SHF for bioethanol production.
• SSF process resulted in ethanol concentration and yield of 21.6 g/L and 54.4%, respectively.

This study concerns in-house development of cellulases from a mutant Penicillium janthinellum EMS-UV-8 and its application in separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes for bioethanol production from pre-treated wheat straw. In a 5 L fermentor, the above strain could produce cellulases having activity of 3.1 FPU/mL and a specific activity of 0.83 FPU/mg of protein. In-house developed cellulase worked more efficiently in case of SSF as ethanol concentration of 21.6 g/L and yield of 54.4% were obtained which were higher in comparison to SHF (ethanol concentration 12 g/L and 30.2% yield). This enzyme preparation when compared with commercial cellulase for hydrolysis of pre-treated wheat straw was found competitive. This study demonstrates that P. janthinellum EMS-UV-8 is a potential fungus for future large-scale production of cellulases.