Fermentation inhibitors in wood hydrolysates derived from the softwood Pinus radiata

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Abstract
Sugar solutions obtained by dilute acid hydrolysis of the softwood Pinus radiata contain various wood‐derived components which are inhibitory to the ethanolic fermentation by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A detailed examination of these compounds indicated that a range of low molecular weight phenolics, related in structure to ‘Hibberts ketones’, may be identified as the most inhibitory materials. These lignin‐based compounds, although present at low levels compared with the carbohydrate‐degradation compounds, are approximately 10 times more inhibitory.