Optimization of Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation for Ethanol Production from Steam-Exploded Cotton Stalk

Steam-exploded cotton stalk was used as raw material in ethanol production through simultaneous saccharification and fermentation by Penicillium Q59 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae P1. The fermentative conditions were firstly examined by single factor experiments to determine the central point in Box-Behnken design, which was explored with expectation to get optimized fermentative conditions for enhancement of ethanol production. The results of optimized fermentative conditions were determined as follows: fermentation time was 10.5 days, bran added percent was 15%, initial pH value was 5.5. Under the optimal conditions, the experimental yield of ethanol was 99.85 ± 4.21 g·kg-1SECS (steam-exploded cotton stalk), which was close to the theoretical predicting value, it showed the model was feasible. The research results will provide technical reference for further exploitation of cotton stalk.