Royal DSM and DONG Energy make C6 and C5 breakthrough from wheat

In the Denmark, Royal DSM, together with DONG Energy, announced it has demonstrated the combined fermentation of C6 and C5 sugars from wheat straw on an industrial scale. The combined fermentation results in a 40 percent increase in ethanol yield per ton of straw, which can result in significant cost cuts in the production of bio-ethanol from cellulosic feedstock.

The demonstration took place in DONG Energy’s Inbicon demonstration plant in Kalundborg, Denmark, the longest running demonstration facility for cellulosic bio-ethanol production in the world. The facility was reconstructed in 2013 in order to be able to conduct mixed fermentation of C6 and C5 sugars. In a two month fermentation test, mixed C6 and C5 fermentation using DSM’s advanced yeast was found to yield 40 percent more ethanol per ton of straw than traditional C6 fermentation.