Sedimentation characteristics and effect of molasses concentration and medium supplementation on the ethanol productivity of an ethanol tolerant palm wineSaccharomyces

Summary Sedimentation rates ranging from 58.82 to 93.10% were recorded for six palm wineSaccharomyces yeast isolates. Isolates S, J and A₃, gave values of 90.00, 91.95 and 93.10% respectively compared to 81.54% for a standard lager beer yeast. Fermentation of unclarified molasses medium 10–30° Brix with isolated J gave ethanol productivity of 74.35-67.07%. Soyabean, groundnut or castor oil seed meal supplements significantly enhanced ethanol productivity in all the molasses media.