Fermentation of Mixed Sugars from Wheat Straw Yields More Ethanol

Global science-based company Royal DSM, together with Denmark-based DONG Energy, announced that it has demonstrated on an industrial scale the combined fermentation of C6 and C5 sugars from wheat straw. The mixture resulted in higher ethanol yield compared to single fermentation system, which can significantly reduce the cost of bio-ethanol production from cellulosic raw material. 

DONG Energy, through its subsidiary Inbicon, develops technology for conversion and refining of soft lignocellulosic biomass into fuel, feed, and green chemistry products. In a two-month fermentation test that took place in DONG Energy's Inbicon demonstration plant in Kalundborg, Denmark, mixed C6 and C5 fermentation using DSM's advanced yeast was found to yield 40 percent more ethanol per ton of straw than traditional C6 fermentation.

In this demonstration, DSM has successfully established a supply chain framework for C5/C6 dry yeast and shown its ability to produce and transport this advanced yeast for use on an industrial scale.