A modified indirect mathematical model for evaluation of ethanol production efficiency in industrial-scale continuous fermentation processes

KARINA I. DANTUR; GERÓNIMO J. CÁRDENAS; ANA CASTAGNARO; PABLO M. AHMED; M. ALEJANDRA CANSECO GRELLET; R. MARCELO RUIZ; GUILLERMO DE BOECK; BJÖRN G. WELIN

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 121 p. 1026 - 1037

1364-5072

To develop a more accurate method to calculate fermentation efficiency in an industrial-scale continuous ethanol production process, we have modified the known as "method of losses". This mathematical model takes into account the formation of major by-products of the fermentation process.The traditional direct method is simpler than the indirect method since it requires fewer determinations; however a minor error in anyone of the measured parameters will have an important impact on the efficiency value calculated. In contrast, the indirect method is much more robust as shown by our sensitivity studies. When testing both calculation methods in an industrial process it was observed low fermentation efficiency values. These suggest the urgent need for a calculation methodology able to optimize the fermentation process. Once a high fermentation yield has been reached the traditional method should be used in order to control the process.