Bioconversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells for the production of ethanol using Cellulolytic fungi isolated from soil

The fungal species with cellulase activity was isolated from the soil using standard procedures. Two isolates were found to produce relatively high amount of cellulase. The production of cellulase by the two isolates was achieved in liquid shake culture containing Carboxymethyl cellulose as substrate. The filter paper activity and CMCase activity of the two isolates were also compared. The 9 day culture filtrate of the two isolates also exhibited highest activity. Ethanol production was checked in the media containing CMC as substrate after saccharification and fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The ethanol yield was found to be maximum on the 9 day culture of both the isolates. Thus the current work deals with comparison of cellulase activity of the two isolates and alcohol production of two isolates by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.