Background: The efficiency of bioethanol production from wheat biomass is related to the quality of end products as well as to safety criteria of co-products such as distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The inclusion of a new biocatalyst for non-starch polysaccharide degradation in fermentation processes could be one of the solutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of β-xylanases in combination with traditional amylolytic enzymes on the efficiency of bioethanol production and DON detoxification during fermentation of Fusarium-contaminated wheat biomass with high concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON; 3.95 mg kg(-1)).
Results: The results showed that the negative effect of Fusarium spp. on yield and quality of bioethanol could be eliminated by the application of Trichoderma reesei xylanase in combination with amylolytic enzymes. This technological solution allowed to increase the concentration of ethanol in the fermented wort by 35.3% and to improve the quality of bioethanol by decreasing the concentrations of methanol, methyl acetate, isoamyl and isobutyl alcohols. Mass balance calculations showed that DDGS was the main source of DON contamination, comprising 74% of toxin found in wheat biomass. By using new enzyme combination for wheat biomass saccharification, a higher level of detoxification (41%) of DON was achieved during the fermentation process.
Conclusion: The addition of Trichoderma reesei xylanase played a positive role in bioethanol production from Fusarium-contaminated wheat biomass, indicating that the yeast-growing medium was enriched during the enzymatic treatment.
Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.