Efficient process for ethanol production from Thai Mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion)

Mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion) obtained from Tak Province, Thailand, possesses the potential to become a lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production. After the grass underwent milling and alkaline pretreatments, it was subjected to acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. The glucose hydrolyzate from the grass was detoxified to remove inhibitory compounds and degradation products such as furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Overliming at pH 10 produced the highest ethanol yield. Among various strains of baker’s yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR 5596 with a yeast concentration of 10% v/v produced the maximum ethanol yield at 16 g/L within 24 h, which is among one of the fastest ethanol producing microorganisms compared to other strains of S. cerevisiae as well as other ethanol-producing microorganisms.