FERMENTATION METHOD TO PRODUCE A LIGNOCELLULOSE-BASED SUGAR STREAM WITH ENRICHED PENTOSE CONTENT

摘要

A method for producing a fermented solution enriched in xylose is provided. The sugar stream that is fermented results from the hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic feedstock and comprises at least a hexose and a pentose. The method comprises fermenting the sugar stream resulting from the hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic feedstock with a microorganism that preferentially ferments the hexose over the pentose. The fermenting is conducted under aerobic conditions and comprises continuously feeding the sugar stream to a fermentation reactor at a dilution rate that converts the hexose to cell mass preferentially over the pentose, thereby reducing the concentration of the glucose in the sugar stream so that the fermented solution thus produced is enriched in the pentose relative to said sugar stream.