Sago starch saccharification and simultaneous ethanol fermentation by amyloglucosidase and Zymomonas mobilis

Simultaneous saccharification and ethanol fermentation (SSF) of sago starch was studied using amyloglucosidase (AMG) and Zymomonas mobilis. The optimal concentration of AMG and operating temperature for the SSF process were found to be 0.5% (v/w) and 35°C, respectively. Under these conditions with 150 g dm^?3 sago starch as a substrate, the final ethanol concentration obtained was 69.2 g dm^?3 and ethanol yield, Y_P/S, 0.50 g g^?1 (97% of theoretical yield). Sago starch in the concentration range of 100–200 g dm^?3 was efficiently converted into ethanol. When compared to a two-step process involving separate saccharification and fermentation stages, the SSF reduced the total process time by half.