Bioprocess for Xylitol from Hemicellulose

In the production of ethanol from corn, the current process utilizes only the starch. Left unused is a significant amount of by-products, which also are produced during ethanol production. If these byproducts, which are rich in pentose and other sugars, could be made into a valuable product, the cost-effectiveness of ethanol production would be enhanced. One such product is xylitol, a five-carbon polyalcohol that has gained acceptance as a natural food sweetener that can replace sucrose on a weight for weight basis. However, xylitol use is currently limited by the limited supply of inexpensive raw materials. This project will develop a bioprocess for the production of xylitol from agricultural biomass, which will significantly reduce the cost of commercial xylitol production and have a positive impact on the economics of fuel ethanol production. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the production of xylitol and the advantages for ethanol production, the basic host organism created in this project should be amenable to further modification, to produce additional polyols from the fermentation of other waste streams.