title: Production of Ethanol from d-Xylose by Using d-Xylose Isomerase and Yeasts.
abstract: d-Xylulose, an intermediate of d-xylose catabolism, was observed to be fermentable to ethanol and carbon dioxide in a yield of greater than 80% by yeasts (including industrial bakers' yeast) under fermentative conditions. This conversion appears to be carried out by many yeasts known for d-glucose fermentation. In some yeasts, xylitol, in addition to ethanol, was produced from d-xylulose. Fermenting yeasts are also able to produce ethanol from d-xylose when d-xylose isomerizing enzyme is present. The results indicate that ethanol could be produced from d-xylose in a yield of greater than 80% by a two-step process. First, d-xylose is converted to d-xylulose by xylose isomerase. d-Xylulose is then fermented to ethanol by yeasts.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, A. A. Potter Engineering Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Tsao