Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Corn Husk by Co-Culture Strategy

Lignocellulosic biofuel production mainly carried out by two ways: simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) and separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). In the present study, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was carried out using microwave assisted thermochemically pretreated (0.5 M NaOH for 20 minutes at 120°C in preheated oven) corn husk. Using co-cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Fusarium oxysporum, SSF process was optimized. Maximum ethanol production (6.24%, v/v) was observed after 24 h of incubation. Further for enhanced ethanol production, effect of different surfactant was carried out on SSF using co-culture strategy. It was found that addition of Tween 60 enhanced the ethanol production upto 6.38% (v/v). Further for addition enhancement of ethanol production, different co-culture strategy was adopted. It was found that maximum ethanol production (6.58% v/v) was obtained when ethanol fermentation was carried out by Fusarium oxysporum followed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.