Ultrasound stimulates ethanol production during the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of mixed waste office paper

The commercial production of ethanol from cellulose by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) is prevented in part by the high cost of fungal cellulase enzymes. Intermittent exposure of SSF processes to ultrasonic energy under selected conditions (5 FPU of cellulase/g of substrate; 15 min of exposure/240 min cycle during the latter half of SSF) was found to increase ethanol production from mixed waste office paper by approximately 20%, producing 36.6 g/L ethanol after 96 h (70% of the maximum theoretical yield). Without ultrasound, 10 FPU of cellulase/g of substrate was required to achieve similar results. Continuous exposure of the organism to ultrasonic energy was bacteriostatic and decreased ethanol production but may be useful for the controlling bacterial growth in other processes.