Process for the co-fermentation of glucose and xylose into ethanol by mixed culture of microorganisms.

摘要

A method for producing ethanol by fermenting a culture medium provided with a supply of nutrients and a sugar mixture containing glucose and xylose as the major sugars, and acting as the essential carbon source for fermentation, said fermentation being carried out in the presence both of oxygen and of at least one first yeast for converting glucose into ethanol, as well as at least one second yeast of a different genus from the first, for converting xylose into ethanol, and under conditions suitable for development of the yeasts. The method is characterized in that the first yeast is a respirationally deficient mutant of said first yeast for converting glucose into ethanol.