Ethanol production from whey with immobilized living yeast

Summary Living Kluyveromyces fragilis yeast cells were succesfully entrapped in calcium alginate gel beads at cell loadings of 4 to 16 g yeast (0.8 to 3.2 g d.m.) per 1 g of sodium alginate. In batch systems, about 90 % conversion in 48 h was obtained both with free and immobilized yeast using demineralized whey of 5 to 10 % lactose content as substrate. In continuous packed-bed column operation nearly a constant 2 % product ethanol concentration could be maintained at 5 % substrate lactose level for at least one month.