Alcoholic Fermentation with Self‐Flocculating Yeast in a Tower Upflow Reactor

Ethanol production using self‐flocculating yeast in a batch tower upflow reactor system operating with a recirculation loop was examined. Ethanol productivity, yield, and residual sucrose concentration were evaluated experimentally according to a central composite design with initial cell and sucrose concentrations and recirculation flow rate as independent variables. Yeast cell concentration strongly influenced the reactor performance. Alcoholic fermentation was conducted using this strain and reactor configuration which allowed for high productivity and high sucrose conversion. The ethanol yield was comparable with industrial yields. A kinetic study of the fermentation process under optimized conditions was performed using the experimental data and considering inhibition by sucrose and ethanol.