Direct fermentation of cellulosic biomass to bioethanol has been very promising and hence attracted
attention in recent years. In this study, bioethanol production from apple pomace hydrolysate (agroindustrial
waste product) was investigated by coculturing Trichoderma harzianum, Aspergillus sojae and
Saccharomyces cerevisiae using statistical approaches. Screening and optimization experiments were
conducted in order to determine the significant factors and their optimum levels for maximum bioethanol
production. Inoculation rates, aeration and agitation speed were considered as factor variables
and bioethanol production as response variable. Highest bioethanol (EtOH) concentration and ethanol
yield on total reducing sugar content (YP/S) were 8.748 g/L and 0.945 g/g, respectively. Optimum conditions
were 6% (w/v) inoculation rates of T.harzianum and A.sojae, and 4% (v/v) inoculation rate of
S.cerevisiae with vented aeration method and agitation speed of 200 rpm. To best of our knowledge to
date, no reports are available in literature regarding the coculturing of T.harzianum, A.sojae and S.cerevisiae
for bioethanol production. Therefore, this study will serve as a base line of initial studies in this
field. The method can create a renewable alternative feedstock for fossil fuel production and suggest a
feasible solution to multiple environmental problems simultaneously creating a sink for waste
utilization.