ARS | Publication request: FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM CORN FIBER: CURRENT STATUS AND TECHNICAL PROSPECTS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 8, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Corn fiber consists of about 20% starch, 20% cellulose and 35% hemicellulose and has the potential to serve as a low cost feedstock for production of fuel ethanol. Currently, the use of corn fiber to produce fuel ethanol faces significant technical and economic challenges. Its success depends largely on the development of environmentally friendly pretreatment procedures, highly effective enzyme systems for conversion of pretreated corn fiber to fermentable sugars and efficient microorganisms to convert multiple sugars to ethanol. We have evaluated several promising pretreatment and enzymatic processes for conversion of corn fiber cellulose, hemicellulose and remaining starch to fermentable sugars. These hydrolyzates were then examined for ethanol production in bioreactors using genetically modified bacteria and yeast. We have also developed several novel enzymes for use in pretreated corn fiber saccharification. This presentation will feature a comprehensive progress report on our efforts in this endeavor.