Treatment of thin stillage by <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> and its effect on alcoholic fermentation in syrup liquid

The microbial degradation of thin stillage for environment-friendly treatment has been studied extensively in recent years, and useful compounds in the treated-thin stillage are expected to be utilized in the subsequent fermentation. In this study, an Aspergillus oryzae H18, suitable for growing in thin stillage, was isolated from soil and served to degrade the organic matter in thin stillage, with the increase in pH (from 3·75 to 4·8) and decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD, 81·3% removal rate). The effect of thin stillage as backset water after degradation of the strain H18 on alcohol production in syrup liquid was investigated. Compared with zero addition of thin stillage, the alcohol yield in mixed syrup liquid increased by 8·6% when the concentration of treated-thin stillage was 20%. After the addition of nutrients at proper concentration (0·5% urea, 1% molasses, 0·25% NaCl, 0·2% NaH2 PO4 , 0·3% MgSO4 and 0·25% CaCl2 ) in thin stillage, the alcohol yield in yeast fermentation was increased by 32·7% when mixed syrup liquid (with 40% thin stillage treated by H18) was employed, in comparison to control group without thin stillage addition. Meanwhile, the fermentation time was shortened, and alcohol production rate was enhanced.