Selection of thermotolerant yeasts for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of cellulose to ethanol.

A total of 27 yeast strains belonging to the groups Candida, Saccharomyces, and Kluyveromyces were screened for their ability to grow and ferment glucose at temperatures ranging 32-45 degrees C. K. marxianus and K. fragilis were found to be the best ethanol producing organisms at the higher temperature tested and, so, were selected for subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) studies. SSF experiments were performed at 42 and 45 degrees C, utilizing Solkafloc (10%) as cellulose substrate and a cellulase loading of 15 FPU/g substrate. Best results were achieved at 42 degrees C with K. marxianus L. G. and K. fragilis L. G., both of which produced close to 38 g/L ethanol and 0.5 ethanol yield, in 78 h.