In comparison to planktonic cells, microbial biofilm immobilization is known to enhance ethanol production. To maintain this capability during long-term fermentation, the detachment of the biofilm must be prevented. In this study, the enhancement of the biofilm immobilization of the yeast Meyerozyma caribbica YLP01GX on bio-based epoxy foam (EF) was performed through plasma surface modification to improve the production of ethanol from oil palm empty fruit bunch hydrolysate. This newly synthesized EF serves as a suitable carrier due to its superior properties and cost-effectiveness. The modification could induce yeast cell attachment more rapidly with more extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) being produced in the presence of the yeast extract. Therefore, the immobilization period can be shortened. In comparison to untreated EF-immobilized cells (NEF-IC), the modified EF-immobilized cells (MEF-IC) showed an improved binding affinity for proteins in the EPS, which resulted in a higher adhesion force between the carrier and the yeast cell surface. The stable biofilm attachment on the modified EF can prevent biofilm detachment and improve the tolerance of the yeast to inhibitors in the hydrolysate, leading to enhanced ethanol production compared to NEF-IC. Additionally, the MEF-IC was reused several times with similar fermentation activity being observed. This approach offers a more efficient and economical fermentation process.

与浮游细胞相比，已知微生物生物膜固定可提高乙醇产量。为了在长期发酵过程中保持这种能力，必须防止生物膜的脱落。在本研究中，增强了酵母Meyerozyma caribbica的生物膜固定YLP01GX 在生物基环氧泡沫 (EF) 上通过等离子体表面改性进行，以提高油棕空果串水解产物乙醇的生产。由于其优异的性能和成本效益，这种新合成的 EF 作为合适的载体。这种修饰可以更快地诱导酵母细胞附着，在酵母提取物的存在下产生更多的细胞外聚合物 (EPS)。因此，可以缩短固定时间。与未经处理的 EF 固定化细胞 (NEF-IC) 相比，修饰的 EF 固定化细胞 (MEF-IC) 对 EPS 中的蛋白质显示出更高的结合亲和力，从而导致载体和酵母细胞之间的粘附力更高表面。改性 EF 上稳定的生物膜附着可以防止生物膜脱离并提高酵母对水解产物中抑制剂的耐受性，从而与 NEF-IC 相比提高乙醇产量。此外，MEF-IC 被重复使用多次，观察到类似的发酵活性。这种方法提供了更有效和经济的发酵过程。