Zymomonas mobilis immobilized on loofa sponge: levan and ethanol production in semi-continuous fermentation

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Technology 2017, Vol.39 (2), p.135-141
• Main Authors: Santos, Vidiany Aparecida Queiroz, Vega-Estrada, Jesus, Montes-Orcasitas, Maria Del Carmen, Garcia-Cruz, Crispin Humberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alcoholic fermentation; attachment; Biomass; Ethanol; exopolysaccharide; Experiments; Fermentation; Luffa cylindrical; Sucrose; Zymomonas mobilis
• ISSN: 1806-2563; 1807-8664; 1806-2563
• DOI: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v39i2.27625

Zymomonas mobilis is a promising microorganism in the biotechnological production of ethanol and levan due to its low biomass and high tolerance to ethanol concentrations. Ethanol and levan production by Z. mobilis CDBB-603 immobilized on loofa sponge using semi-continuous fermentation is evaluated. The first experiment, conducted with initial volume 50 mL and incubated for 24 hours, produced maximum ethanol and levan production, respectively 13.56 g L-1 and 23.94 g L-1, with 250 g L-1 sucrose and without agitation, at 30°C. The second experiment was based on the best condition obtained in the first, using fermenter with production scale of 200 mL and by semi-continuous process. The second experiment also assessed immobilized biomass reuse during 10 days (240 hours) and produced higher ethanol (34.64 g L-1) and levan (26.40 g L-1) production rates than in the first experiment. Experiment 2 also verified that the microorganism remained viable and produced ethanol and levan until the last (10th) recycle day.