Enzymatic degradation and fermentation of Corn Bran for Bioethanol production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa AU4738 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using Co-culture technique

Ethanol is one of the bioenergy sources with low environmental and high efficiency impact. The aim of this study was to screen for the bacterial isolate capable of degrading starch, investigate the enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of corn bran through submerged fermentation using co-culture technique for bioethanol production. The isolate was identified using 16S rRNA sequence technique as Pseudomonas aeruginosa AU4738. Corn bran was used as substrates with and without garlic powder (Allium sativum L.) as activator and subsequently optimized for production of bioethanol. Reducing sugar from the hydrolysate and ethanol concentration of the distillate were analyzed using spectrophotometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry techniques respectively. There was an increase in glucose concentration (23.8% and 17.8%) in the culture medium with and without activator at 48 h respectively but steadily decreased from 72 h to 168 h. Maximum ethanol concentration obtained in substrate culture with activator was 35% higher compared with that without activator at 120 h fermentation time. Thus a cheap, renewable and readily available agricultural waste has been effectively utilized as substrate for bioethanol production and incorporation of activator also had significant effect on the viability of fermenting organisms thus subjugating the intolerance of alcohol concentration.