Sequential process of solid-state cultivation with fungal consortium and ethanol fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae from sugarcane bagasse.

Solid-state cultivation (SSC) is the microbial growth on solid supports, producing a nutrient-rich solution by cell enzymes that may be further used as a generic microbial medium. "Second-generation" ethanol is obtained by fermentation from mainly the acid hydrolysates of lignocellulosic wastes, generating several microbial growth inhibitors. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the feasibility of ethanol fermentation from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate after SSC with vinasse as the impregnating solution by a consortium of A. niger and T. reesei as opposed to the conventional method of acid hydrolysis. Fermentation of the hydrolysate from SSC leading to the yield of 0.40 g g-1, i.e., about 78% of maximum stoichiometric indicating that the nonconventional process allowed the use of two by-products from sugarcane processing in addition to ethanol production from glucose release.