Ethanol is also used as a raw material in the chemical
industry for various purposes and as an additive to fuel
(Table 1). However, yeasts are very susceptible to ethanol
inhibition. Concentrations of 1–2% (w/v) are sufficient to
retard growth, and at 10% growth is inhibited. Therefore,
for production of ethanol on an industrial scale yeast
strains have been selected for features such as high ethanol
yield and glucose. Industrial strains produce 50 to 120 g of
ethanol per litre, with high selectivity from raw materials
such as sugar crops, industrial and food processing wastes
such as whey and sulfite liquors, lignocellulose and
starches.