Direct fermentation of cellulose to ethanol by Fusarium oxysporum

The cellulase hyperproducing strain F3 of Fusarium oxysporum fermented glucose, xylose, cellobiose, and cellulose directly to ethanol. Conversion of cellulose to ethanol was markedly affected by the pH of both aerated preculture and nonaerated fermentation. Optimum values of cellulose conversion to ethanol were obtained when aerated and nonaerated processes were carried out at pH 5.5 and 6, respectively. Maximum ethanol concentrations of 9.6 and 14.5 g l −1, corresponding to 89.2 and 53.2% of the theoretical yield, were obtained when the fungus was grown under nonaerated conditions at 34°C for 6 days in a medium containing 20 and 50 g l −1 cellulose, respectively.