Evaluation of Ethanol Production using Various Carbon Substrates by Sacharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosacharomyces bombe

Bio-ethanol used today is mainly produced from sugar cane and cereals, but reducing the production costs of ethanol is still crucial for a viable economic process. Cellulose from plant biomass will be the next cheaper raw material for second generation fuel ethanol production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombae are the common industrial yeast strains used for the production of ethanol from various substrates derived from agricultural commodities. In the present study, ethanol was produced from various substrates such as molasses, sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, jaggery, grapes, beet root, orange and rice substrates by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombae. The experimental study shows that the biomass production declines progressively when the ethanol accumulates in the surrounding medium after the production of ethanol. However, the conversion of ethanol was achieved in batch fermentation process at optimum temperature and the internal pH of the fermentation medium at laboratory level. The yield percentage of ethanol for the above substrates were analyzed and compared for different carbon sources. Among different substrates, Jaggery and Molases showed higher ethanol yield as 95.2% and 93.5% respectively. Among the two species of yeast studied, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yielded higher percentage of ethanol than Schizosaccharomyces pombae in batch fermentation process. The present study concludes the effect of various carbon sources on production of ethanol with two different industrial yeast strains such as S accharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombae are vary in similar conditions of ethanol production processprocess.

Ethanol has been used by human since prehistorically as the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic beverages and used as solvents, in perfumes, paints and in medical applications (Kothari's and Sons, 1987).During the last few years, there has been an increasing interest and demand in using ethanol as a substitute for fossil fuels and various other industrial applications Report of the committee of technical (Experts on Alcohol and Alcohol Based Industries, 1980; All India distillers association, 1997 -1999).Ethanol production is among the oldest technology and is produced commercially by fermentation of molasses, cereal grains and other materials with high starch and/or sugar contents (Mahalingam, 1977;Yadav et. al., 1997aYadav et. al., , 1997b)).The fermentation process involves conversion of sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide by the action of yeast species.The great majority of ethanol produced in the world is from sugarcane molasses (Buzz et. al., 1989) and the common strains of yeast used are Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces ellipsoids, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomyces fragilis, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces ovaru (Kapadnis, 1999).The bacteria include Zymomonas mobilis also can also be used for alcoholic fermentation.In India, Production of ethanol is exclusively from cane molasses and every tone of sugar produce 190 L of molasses (50-55% sugar) and one ton of molasses produced 280 L of ethanol (Rao, UB, 1996).
There are many reports shows the production of ethanol from various fruits and its products worldwide.The production of ethanol from Orange fruits were achieved and Orange based ethanol is used as a Biodiesal (Sebastian Blancol, 2008).Grapes contain glucose and fructose are the major sugar components which is used to produce ethanol (Morris et. al., 1996).Saccharomyces Cerevesiae strains overcome osmotic stress and to yield ethanol fermenting high sugar concentration of grape in wine making and the wine making industry can use high sugar concentration musts (Malacrinò et. al., 2005).Sapota fruits also be used for ethanol fermentation.The composition of Sapota juice revealed that it is one of the rich sources of sugars, proteins, ascorbic acid, phenolics, carotenoids and minerals like iron, copper, zinc, calcium and potassium which can be used for the production of ethanol (Anand et. al., 2007).
All micro-organisms including ethanol producing yeasts, display an optimum growth temperatures which is usually close to the maximum temperature allowing growth of cells.The fermentation of molasses was optimized with respect to temperature, pH and sugar concentration and the results revealed a temperature of 30°C, pH 6.0 and 20% sugar concentration as optimum for fermentation (Anoop Verma, 2006).The temperature and pH for maximum were found to be 30°C, and pH 5 which is also optimum temperature and pH for the growth of the organism (Benerji et. al., 2010).The pH of the media is generally made acidic for yeast (4.5-5.5)growth and production of ethanol achieved.During batch fermentation, the rate of ethanol production per milligram of cell protein is maximal for a brief early period and declines progressively as ethanol accumulated in the surrounding broth (Dombek and Ingram, 1987).However, with the gradual development of beet sugar and cane sugar factories throughout the world, production of ethanol from molasses is the cheapest raw material; hence cellulose hydrolysis cannot compete with these.Sugar cane, sweet sorghum and cassava are considered to be the efficient converters of solar energy into stored energy in the form of sugar and carbohydrates and are ideal crops for the production of ethyl alcohol from renewable sources of energy (Mathur, 2002).Hence these are called energy crops.Sugar, carbohydrates and cellulose are products of photosynthesis and known as biomass and can theoretically converted into ethyl alcohol (Alcohol based industries, 1981).In view of the expected global shortage of petroleum products and the advantages ethyl alcohol to replace gasoline, it may be imperative for all the countries to think of producing ethyl alcohol from any agricultural raw materials, as economically as possible, particularly to reduce the dependence on other countries.
Therefore, the present study is carried out with the objectives of studying the yield and efficiency of the alcohol fermentation by using various carbon substrates like molasses, sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, jaggery, grapes, orange juice, beetroot mash and rice in the laboratory scale level.The yield of alcohol and fermentation efficiency by different yeast strains like Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe were compared for future process development and economical viability of alcohol production.In addition to the alcohol production efficiency, the fermentable sugars and non-fermentable sugars also analyzed for comparison.

Chemicals, Glassware and Lab procedures
The chemicals and reagents used in the present study were analytical grade of Emerck, Loba and BDH purchased from licensed Scientific companies, Chennai.The glassware including Distillation apparatus, conical flask, beakers, test tubes, boiling tubes, eppendorf tubes, measuring jars, micropippetes etc. used in the present study are belong to Borosil.
The glassware were first soaked in chromic acid solution (10% Potassium dichromate solution with 25% Con.Sulphuric acid) for few hours to remove tough residues and washed with tap water subsequent to rinsing with distilled water.After draining the water completely, it was dried in a drying chamber at 80 o C and cooled before it being taken for further use in the experiments (Mahadevan and Sridhar, 1996).The general laboratory and microbiological methods used in the present study is followed after (Purvis et. al., 1996).Sterilization of culture media, glassware and miscellaneous articles were carried out in an autoclave at 121 o C, 15 psi for 15 minutes.All the microbial culture and fermentation experiments were conducted under laminar air flow inoculation chamber with strict aseptic conditions.However, the glassware was sterilized by using hot air oven at 120 o C for 3 hrs period.

Yeast Cultures and enzymes
The yeast species used in the present study for production of alcohol were Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe which were obtained from E.I.D Parry (India) Ltd.Nellikuppam, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India.The Potato dextrose agar (PDA) slants were used for propagation and preservation of yeast cultures in the laboratory for the experimental study.The enzyme a-Amylase obtained from Meera Labs (p) Ltd., Chennai was used for hydrolysis of starch present in rice.

Sample Substrates for analysis
Various carbon sources containing substrates used in the present study are molasses, sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, jaggery, grapes, beet root, orange and rice substrates for the production of alcohol by using above yeast species.The substrates were analysed for its total reducing sugars for the alcohol producing capacity and nonfermentable sugars.Determination of total reducing sugars / Fermentable sugars (Lane Eynon, 1923) The chemical method for invert sugar estimation depends on properties of reducing sugars as glucose and fructose to reduce copper in the cupric state (Cu 2+ ) to cuprous (Cu + ) in alkaline solutions as mentioned in the following procedure.

Fehling's solution (A and B)
a. Fehling's solution was prepared by mixing equal volumes of (i) and (ii) just before use.i.
Copper sulphate solution (A): Exactly 34.639g of Copper sulphate (CuSo 4 , 5H 2 O) was dissolved in water and 0.5 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid of specific gravity 1.84 was added.This solution was diluted to 500 ml in a volumetric flask and filtered.
ii. Alkaline tartarate solution (B): Rochelle Salt or Potassium sodium tartarate (KNaC 4 H 4 O 6 4H 2 O) 173 g and 50g of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were dissolved in water and diluted to 500 ml.It was let to stand for 2 days and filtered.b.Invert sugars stock solution (1%): About 9.5g of pure sucrose was weighed in a standard flask.To this 5ml of concentrated H 2 SO 4 was added and diluted with water of about 100ml.This was left to stand for 3 days at 20 to 25 o C and then diluted to 1000ml.c.Working standard solution: About 50 ml of the stock solution of invert sugar was pipetted out in a 250 ml volumetric flask.It was neutralized carefully with NaOH of about 1% (w / v) and made up to the volume.d.Methylene blue indicator solution: Methylene blue indicator (1%) was prepared in distilled water.e. Sodium hydroxide solution (6N): About 60 g of sodium hydroxide was dissolved in 250ml of distilled water.f.EDTA solution: About 40g of ethylene di-amine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) was dissolved in 1000 ml of distilled water.g.Amylase enzyme: Liquid Amylase enzyme was used with sufficient concentration to convert starch into maximum reducing sugars.

Working standard preparation
The working standard invert sugar solutions were poured into a 50ml burette.Exactly 10ml of Fehling's solution was pipetted out into a 250ml Erlenmeyer flask.The standard invert sugar solution from the burette was titrated against the flask containing Fehlings solution, in order to obtain reduction of all copper.The sugar solution from the burette was added drop by drop till the blue colour of the solution just disappears and appearance orange to brick red colour.The titer was noted and the values were plotted in the graph and working standard curve was prepared for comparison of sample values.

Preparation of samples
About 12.5 g of individual substrates were weighed accurately and transferred to a 250 ml volumetric flask.To this 40 ml of EDTA solution was added and made up to the volume of 250 ml and mixed well.From this solution 100 ml was taken in a 500ml volumetric flask and made up to volume with water and mixed.
From the above sample, 50ml was taken in a 100ml volumetric flask, to this 2.

Preparation of Sample solution of rice
Twenty gram of rice was mixed in 100 ml of distilled water and 2 ml of amylase enzyme was added.The solution was stirred well and added about 900 ml of gently boiling water in a large beaker and cooked well.The cooked solutions were mixed well and the gelatinized starch solutions were kept in room temperature for hydrolysis reaction.Then the hydrolyzed solutions were used as invert solutions of rice substrate for analysis of reducing sugars (Dalel Singh et. al., 2007).

Method of Titration in samples
The diluted inverted solutions were taken in 50 ml burette individually.About 10 ml of Fehling's solution was pipetted out in a 250 ml conical flask and enough quantity of water was added to it.The contents of the flask was heated and allowed to boil for 1 to 2 minutes.Then the sample solutions containing invert sugar from the burette was added in small quantities and the liquid was allowed to boiled, till the blue colour disappeared.As the original orange to brick red colour reappears the titer value was noted.

Calculation Determination of Non-fermentable sugars (Lane Eynon, 1923)
Non fermentable sugars are the fraction of dissolved solids of the molasses and other substrates which cannot be fermented.The yeast utilizes all the fermentable sugars during exhaustive fermentation.The sugars, which are not utilized during alcohol fermentation, are determined by the method mentioned earlier for determination of reducing sugars.

Preparation of samples for estimation of nonfermentable sugars
All the substrates like Molases, Sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, Jaggery, Grapes, Beet root, Orange and Rice after yeast fermentation for alcohol production were taken for analysis of non-fermentable sugars.The above substrates were weighed and converted into reducing sugars by acid hydrolysis as mentioned earlier of sulphuric acid and the samples were prepared for further titration by Fehling's method.

Preparation of sample solution with invert sugars
Exactly 12.5g of substrate was weighed and 150 ml of distilled water was added to it.About 15ml of amylase is added and the pH was adjusted to 4.5-4.6 with diluted acid.The hydrolysed solution was transferred to 250 ml flask.Forty ml of EDTA was added to the flask and the solution was made up to 250 ml with distilled water.

Method of Titration
The titration of above prepared samples for determination of reducing sugars was done by the method used as earlier and calculated.

Calculation of Fermentable sugars
The difference between total reducing sugars (TRS) and non-Fermentable sugar (NFS) gives the value of total fermentable sugars.
Total fermentable sugars = Total reducing substances -Non Fermentable sugar The fermentable sugar content of substrates was very important in determining the yield and the efficiency of fermentation.

Alcohol Fermentation
Different substrates like Molases, Sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, jaggery, Grapes, Beet root, Orange juice and Rice were taken for fermentation of alcohol by both the yeast species like S.cereviseae and S.bombe.Eight different

Distillation and recovery of Alcohol
Exactly 150 ml of fermented sample broth was measured in a volumetric flask.The content was transferred to 500 ml flat bottomed flask.The standard flask was rinsed with 25 ml of distilled water twice and combined the washings with sample.The flask was connected to the still head and condenser.About 125 ml of the sample was distilled out and the distilled sample was made up to 150 ml with distilled water.

Determination of Ethanol by Skye's Hydrometer
The ethanol content was determined as a function of the density of the distilled fluid.The distilled fluid contains some ethanol which correspondingly reduces the density of the mixture of water and ethanol that is distilled out.
The distillate was poured into 250 ml measuring cylinder.Sykes hydrometer was slowly put into the cylinder.The reading was rated on the hydrometer corresponding to the lower meniscus.The temperature was rated with the help of Fahrenheit thermometer and the strength was found out from the table.

Calculation
The strength obtained from the sykes hydrometer is in proof table.Proof is multiplied by 0.571 to get strength in % V/V.
Ethanol content = Proof x 0.571

Determination of Efficiency
Expected value = ((Weight of substrate taken x Fermentable sugar )/100) X 0.644 Observed value = Ethanol % X Total volume/100 Efficiency = Observed value/Expected value

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
The ethanol fermentation process is depending on environmental parameters like temperature, pH of the substrate and nutrients and cellular characteristics like metabolism of the organisms used.It is needed to understand the physiological regulation of yeast for ethanol production and has been studied for many years (Elena Patrascu et. al., 2009).Therefore, the present study carried out to explain suitable carbon substrates and strains for the maximum ethanol production.The fermentation efficiency is based on the carbon substrates used in the fermentation process and the yeast convert the sugar molecules in to ethanol which showed in the present study as the Jaggery, Cane syrup, Molases and rice contain higher fermentable sugars yielded higher percentage of alcohol respectively.Although the rice showed higher carbohydrate content, the yield percentage of alcohol is not comparatively higher than Jaggery, Cane syrup and Molases.This variance is based on the total reducing sugars (TRS) and fermentable sugars present in each carbon substrates and also the efficiency of the yeast utilizing the sugars for fermentation.
Among raw cane syrup and Cane juice, Cane syrup showed more than 90% of efficiency on inoculation with Saccharuomyces cerevisiae and also Schizosaccharomyces pombe in ehanol production.This may be due to the presence of other materials including additives which may not favour for complete conversion of alcohol by yeast fermentation.Considering the effect of fruits, grapes showed more than 80% efficiency in ethanol production than orange fruits which might be the grapes contain larger amount of reducing sugars which was mostly converted into ethanol.Among Jaggery and Molasses used for fermentation,  , 1996). .During batch fermentation, the rate of ethanol production per milligram of cell protein is maximal for a brief period early in this process and declines progressively as ethanol accumulated in the surrounding broth.This study demonstrates that the removal of this accumulated ethanol that the decline in metabolic rate is due to physiological changes rather than to the presence of ethanol.Several potential causes for the decline in fermentative activity have been investigated (Belkis Caylak and Fazilet Vardar Sukan, 1998).Viability of cell products remained at or above 90% internal pH remained near neutrality, and the specific activities of the glycolytic and alchologenic enzymes remained high throughout batch fermentation.None of these factors appears to be causally related to the fall in fermentative activity during batch fermentation.(Dombek and Ingram, 1987).
When comparing the Yeast strains used, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is having higher efficiency than Schizosaccharomyces pombe in batch fermentation of ethanol production.It produced almost 80% and above efficiency for alcohol production in all carbon substrates used.Rice is produced about 82% and 85% ethanol by both the strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe respectively and S.cerevisiae is having higher portential of alcohol fermentation with rice.The growth and metabolism of yeast species may vary which was reported as Saccharomyces cerevisiae reproduce through budding while Schizosaccharomyces pombe reproduce through cell fission by the formation of crosswall (septum) in which the incubation time of S. Cerevisiae yield better results only in batch fermentation and cannot be recycled after fermentation, while S. pombe gives better results in continuous fermentation and it can be recycled for further fermentations (Chardhary and Chincholkar, 1996;Hafiz O. Abubaker et. al., 2012).However, both the strains are suitable for fermentation of ethanol in individual process of fermentation technology.
In recent years, the fermentation of alcohol with cane molasses, grapes and other fruits such as orange having increased fermentable sugars are reported.In the manufacture of sugars, molasses the valuable by-product of sugar industry is considered as a waste product; hence molasses becomes a greatest disposable problem for sugar industries.However molasses can be utilized as the raw material for the production of ethanol, which is a very versatile chemical and has great demand all over the world.
This study demonstrates that the removal of this accumulated ethanol that the decline in metabolic rate is due to physiological changes rather than to the presence of ethanol.Several potential causes for the decline in fermentative activity have been investigated.Eventhough S.cerevisea giving higher yield, it cannot be used for continuous fermentation as it is unable to recycle for further fermentation, Schizosaccharomyces pombe is mostly used for continuous fermentation which gives moderately higher yield and having many advantages.Because of increasing demand for fuel ethanol, there is a need to search for high yielding carbon substrates and easily accessible technology for the production of ethanol at reduced cost.
5ml of concentrated HCL was added.The flask was kept in the water bath with constant agitation till the temperature raised to 70 o C and allowed to keep for 5 minutes.Then the flask was kept in cold water at 20 o C till the contents reached to 35 o C. Then about 2 -3 drops of phenolphthalein was added to the flask and neutralized the solution with 6N sodium hydroxide till the solution turned slightly pink.The flask was kept at 20 o C for 30 minutes and made up to the volume with water and mixed the solution well.

Plate 4 .
Cane Juice Fermentation Plate 5. Orange Fermentation Plate 6. Molasses Fermentation Plate 7. Distillation of fermented broth 500 ml conical flasks were taken and filled with 200ml of distilled water.To these, about 30 gm of substrate was dissolved in each conical flask and mixed well.The cooked rice was weighed about 30 g and 200 ml of water was added.About 10 ml of 48 hour old yeast culture suspension was added and stirred well.Then the individual flasks containing all the contents for fermentation were incubated at 34 o C for 48 -72 hours.After the incubation, the fermented broth was analyzed for the yield of alcohol by various tests.

Table 1 .
Details of Total reducing sugars, Nonfermentable sugars and Fermentable Sugars of various substrates Graph 1.Details of Total reducing sugars (TRS), Fermentable sugars (FS) of different substrates

Table 2 .
Alcohol Content and Efficiency of Various Substrates using Saccharomyces cerevisiae Graph 2. Details of Total reducing sugars (TRS), Fermentable sugars (FS) and alcohol effieciency (%) of substrates fermented by Sacharomyces cerevieseae

Table 3 .
Alcohol Content and Efficiency of Various Substrates using Schizosaccharomyces pombe Graph 3. Details of Total reducing sugars (TRS), Fermentable sugars (FS) and alcohol effieciency (%) of substrates fermented by Sizosacharomyces pombe