Fermentation kinetics of spent sulfite liquor by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The growth kinetics of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the production rate of ethanol have been studied in batch fermentation under anaerobic conditions in a 20-L fermentor. Two substrates were used in fermentation trials: a synthetic mixture of three fermentable sugars, D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-galactose, and a low-yield liquor originating from a bisulfite cooking process. The Monod model adequately described the system in relation to the specific growth rate mu(x) and the specific product formation rate mu(P). Different fermentation parameters (growth rate, substrate utilization, and product formation) were determined for the synthetic mixture and the bisulfite liquor. It was observed that the specific growth rate is much lower in spent sulfite liquor than in a synthetic medium. However, the specific product formation rate remains the same in both media.