More efficient bioethanol production might be possible using persimmon tannin to help yeast thrive

What is necessary for the production of ethanol is yeast, but ethanol is among the environmental factors that add stress to yeasts, hindering their growth.

To promote efficient bioethanol production, scientists have been searching for substances that can help yeasts better withstand ethanol, but few effective ones have been found.

An Osaka Metropolitan University research team, including graduate student Ilhamzah and Professor Ken-ichi Fujita of the Graduate School of Science and Professor Akira Ogita of the Research Center for Urban Health and Sports, has found that tannin from persimmons improves the growth of the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of ethanol.

"In this study, yeast cultures grown in a medium containing ethanol and persimmon tannin showed an 8.9-fold increase in cell number compared to cultures grown in an ethanol medium without persimmon tannin," stated Professor Fujita.

The researchers explored persimmon tannin because it is known for its antioxidative properties. "Persimmon tannin reduced ethanol-induced oxidative stress," Fujita added. "However, persimmon tannin did not prevent ethanol-induced cell membrane damage.

Image source: Osaka Metropolitan University.