Production of Ethanol from Cellulose Using Clostridum thermocellum

Abstract

Clostridium thermocellum was used to produce ethanol from cellulose in a continuous system: Batch fermentations were first performed to observe the effects of buffers and agitation on generation time and ethanol production. Continuous fermentations were carried out at 60°C and pH 7 using pure cellulose as the limiting substrate. The maximum ethanol concentrations produced with 1.5 and 3% cellulose fermenting liquid were 0.3 and 0.9% respectively.