Ethanol production by repeated batch culture using yeast cells immobilized within porous cellulose carriers.

Ethanol was efficiently produced for 20 d by repeated batch culture using yeast cells immobilized in porous cellulose carriers. The physical structure of the carrier beads, which had small pores distributed on the outer surface and relatively large pores distributed in the interior, was found to be effective for cell immobilization. The effects of chemical modifications to the basic cellulose carrier on cell immobilization and ethanol production were also examined in repeated batch cultures. The chemical modifications had little effect on either cell immobilization or ethanol production.