Abstract

The thermotolerant yeast, K. marxianus IMB3, was grown in free and immobilized states in batch-fed culture at 45 degrees C and ethanol production was examined over a 61-day period. The organism was grown in the free state, in the free state with mineral kissiris, immobilized in calcium alginate and immobilized in calcium alginate together with kissiris. Initially, reactors were fed every two days with 10% (w/v) glucose-containing media and no significant difference in ethanol production was observed. In subsequent refeeding experiments, reactors were re-fed every two days with 15% (w/v) sucrose-containing media. Although overall ethanol concentrations decreased, production in the immobilized systems was higher. In the final stages fermentations were re-fed every 3 days and although overall ethanol production decreased further, production remained highest in the systems containing calcium alginate and kissiris.