Potential of locally isolated Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUZ1Y strain for fermenting xylose to ethanol

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolate was found capable of growing on media containing xylose as sole carbon source. The yeast preferred initial pH 9 and a temperature range of 28±1 C to 37 C. Aeration increased the growth and 10% inoculum was found optimum for the yeast cultivation. In batch cultures the yeast continued to grow up to the last sampling period at the cost of xylose consumption. Ethanol contents appeared to be about 0.5% and 0.7% at first and second sampling periods respectively, thereafter amount of the product decreased. In the fed batch cultures alcohol content tended to elevate again, but remained about 50% less than those obtained at first sampling point (48hours) from the batch cultures. The yeast isolate bears potential to ferment the pentose sugar into the biofuel.