Grain Processing - Biofuels: Xcelis Ethanol Saccharification and Fermentation

The importance of saccharification & fermentation

The liquefied mash then goes into the saccharification and fermentation step. Saccharification breaks down shorter glucose chains (dextrins) into fermentable sugars.

A glucoamylase enzyme is used to hydrolyze liquified starch to single glucose molecules, where yeast then converts glucose to ethanol and CO2 during fermentation. Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) combines the glucoamylase and yeast into one step.

Healthy yeast = Successful Fermentations

Yeast need the right nutrients and environment for optimum growth and production. While understanding these requirements are central to a successful fermentation, so is selecting the right yeast. Yeast stress can reduce growth rates and also lead to stuck or sluggish fermentations. A yeast that is designed to withstand stressors such as organic acids, high temperatures or other challenging conditions is ideal to help you succeed and maximize your potential.

Discover Our Saccharification
& Fermentation Solutions

While glucoamylases are the primary enzymes needed in the Saccharification & Fermentation step in addition to the yeast, other accessory enzymes and fermentation additives can be beneficial in the process. Learn more about our robust portfolio of solutions below.

Our DISTILLASE® products use precision blends of concentrated enzymes to efficiently produce glucose from liquefied starch increasing fermentation rates (shortening fermentation times) and yields. Our flexible suite of DISTILLASE® glucoamylase based products enables you to customize to your plant’s specific needs with a combination of yield and performance-enhancing enzymes such as trehalase, amylase, protease and phytase. Depending on the product selected, benefits may include:

Higher ethanol yield
Lower residual starch in stillage and DDGS
Less residual sugars
Lower glycerol
Increased level of essential yeast nutrients
Flexibility in feedstock use

Learn More

Our line of SYNERXIA® Fermentation Systems pair robust glucoamylase-producing yeasts with a uniquely superior debranching glucoamylase blend to deliver the following benefits:

Increased ethanol yields – up to 3% vs. conventional yeasts
Excellent thermotolerance during production temperature excursions
Better organic acid tolerance than conventional yeast
20-25% lower total sugars at end of fermentation
An industry proven glucoamylase-expressing yeast reducing the need to add glucoamylase by up to 40%
Available in both dry and cream formats for maximum flexibility

Learn More

Our OPTIMASH® range of products consists of a diverse line of accessory enzymes used in the saccharification and fermentation process.

These include:

Phytases – efficiently hydrolyzes phytate under ethanol fermentation conditions, generating inositol, an important yeast nutrient while maximizing the level of free phosphate in residuals (DDGS).
Trehalases — for hydrolyzing extracellular trehalose to glucose during the SSF process, which can then be converted into additional ethanol.

Learn More

FERMGEN® 2.5X is a line of acid proteolytic enzymes designed to hydrolyze proteins under low pH conditions.

The broad substrate specificity of FERMGEN® 2.5X protease enables the enzyme to easily and efficiently hydrolyze most proteins in a random fashion – delivering faster fermentation rates and yield.

Learn More

FermaSure® is a line of antibiotic-free fermentation additives that rapidly attack and decrease harmful bacteria, allowing you to increase your ethanol fermentation rates and efficiency.

Benefits include: