Aqueous feeds of 413 and 495 g/L glucose were fermented to ethanol at 90-95% conversion in a continuous flow extractive fermentation system with cell recycle. Compared to the continuous conventional fermentation of a 195 g/L glucose medium, the volumetric productivity was more than doubled in extractive mode, with no deleterious effects on cell viability, specific glucose consumption rate or ethanol yield. The use of an effective, biocompatible and stable in situ extractant with flash vaporization can also produce a concentrated ethanol vapour stream, reducing distillation costs of the product.
Extractive fermentation is a processing strategy in which reaction and recovery occur simultaneously in a fermentation vessel through the use of a water‐immiscible solvent which selectively removes an inhibitory product. We have developed an ethanol extractive fermentation process incorporating continuous operation, the ability to ferment concentrated feedstocks, and greatly reduced energy and water use. This article provides a detailed economic assessment of this process relative to current technology for an annual capacity of 100 million litres of ethanol. Extractive fermentation provides significant economic advantages for both grass roots and retrofitted plants. Producing anhydrous ethanol without distillation is a prospect.
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