Raw starch from wild inedible cassava was successfully converted to bioethanol through co-culture ofS. cerevisiaeand a newly
isolated strain of Aspergillussp. MZA-3. This was compared with a
monoculture ofS. cerevisiae, using enzyme preparation from the
Aspergillussp. MZA-3. Both approaches when supplemented with
commercial glucoamylase resulted into high ethanol yields (91%
and 95% of TY), and carbon recovery (99% and 101%), respectively.
Although the co-culture displayed longer fermentation time and
relatively low volumetric productivity, 1.2 g/L/h versus 4.5 g/L/h for
the monoculture, it could be of interest since direct bioconversion
of raw starch to ethanol is performed at 302
C in a single reactor,
significantly downsize energy and operational costs. Our future
studies focus on the interactions of the two microorganisms in the
co-culture fermentation to ascertain optimum performance.
Furthermore techno-economical analysis is required to ascertain
the economics of the two approaches