Kinetics of batch fermentations for ethanol production with Zymomonas mobilis growing on Jerusalem Artichoke juice.

A flocculent strain of Zymomonas mobilis was used for ethanol production from Jerusalem Artichoke juice containing 113-245 g/L sugar in batch fermentation. The kinetic and yields parameters are calculated using a new method based on polynomial equations for the variation of biomass, ethanol, and sugar concentrations with time. The results show that. Z. mobilis can convert rapidly and efficiently Jerusalem Artichoke juice to ethanol. When a sugar concentration of 248 gL was used, 100 g/L ethanol was formed with an ethanol yield based on sugar utilized of 0.47 g/g (92% of theoretical LP).