Figure 2.

Simplified process using C. thermocellum and T. saccharolyticum in co-culture for ethanol production. C. thermocellum produces the cellulases and hemicellulases for hydrolysis of lignocelluloses to sugars such as cellobiose and xylobiose. In addition, C. thermocellum can utilize hexose sugars derived from celluloses to produce ethanol. While, the hemicelluloses derived pentoses can be utilized by T. saccharolyticum. T. saccharolyticum also contributes to cellobiose reduction and is a good ethanol producer (modified from Demain et al. ⁸⁵).