Evaluation of D-xylose fermenting yeasts for utilization of a wood-derived hemicellulose hydrolysate

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Abstract
Seven of 37 strains of yeast, recently identified for their ability to ferment D-xylose to ethanol, produced this alcohol from crude hardwood hemicellulose hydrolysate in batch culture, with variable amounts of xylitol as a by-product. Of these, Candida tropicalis showed the greatest potential for ethanol production. The crude acid hydrolysate was found to be inhibitory to all of the yeasts, even at dilute hydrolysate concentrations. Significant improvements in the utilization of the substrate were achieved through both strain acclimatization and chemical pretreatment of the hydrolysate.