Solid-substrate fermentation of corn fiber by Phanerochaete chrysosporium and subsequent fermentation of hydrolysate into ethanol.

The goal of this study was to develop a fungal process for ethanol production from corn fiber. Laboratory-scale solid-substrate fermentation was performed using the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium in 1 L polypropylene bottles as reactors via incubation at 37 degrees C for up to 3 days. Extracellular enzymes produced in situ by P. chrysosporium degraded lignin and enhanced saccharification of polysaccharides in corn fiber. The percentage biomass weight loss and Klason lignin reduction were 34 and 41%, respectively. Anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C following 2 day incubation reduced the fungal sugar consumption and enhanced the in situ cellulolytic enzyme activities. Two days of aerobic solid-substrate fermentation of corn fiber with P. chrysosporium, followed by anaerobic static submerged-culture fermentation resulted in 1.7 g of ethanol/100 g of corn fiber in 6 days, whereas yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cocultured with P. chrysosporium demonstrated enhanced ethanol production of 3 g of ethanol/100 g of corn fiber. Specific enzyme activity assays suggested starch and hemi/cellulose contribution of fermentable sugar.