Fermentation of starch to ethanol by a co-culture of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Static fermentation of starch to ethanol by a co-culture of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and Saccharomyces cerevisiae without addition of nutritional supplements was investigated with respect to initial starch concentration, pH of the media and initial dry weight ratio of Sps. fibuligera to Sacc. cerevisiae biomass (I R).Optimal conditions for ethanol production were: starch from 20 to 30 g/l; initial pH values from 5.8 to 6.0; and I R values of 2.0 or 3.0. The highest attained ethanol concentration, 13.7 g/l, represented 88% of the theoretical yield.