Mexican scientists produce ethanol through innovative hydrolysis process

In Mexico, scientists have begun using a hydrolysis process to convert the carbohydrates in food waste into 500 liters of ethanol per day. The waste employed is from processing corn with high content of starch, cellulose and hemicellulose. CIATEJ researchers used hydrolytic enzymes and yeasts with high tolerance to ethanol, implying that fermentations were performed with high concentrations of sugars to generate more efficient processes.

“Although it was a project designed at the request of a company, the technology can be adapted to different waste from the food industries of the country, such as the bakery, dairy and fruit processing sectors, among others,” says Lorena Amaya Delgado.

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