A group around Jun OGAWA isolated a thermophilic yeast, Scheffersomyces shehatae JCM18690, which is thermoresistant and can metabolize starch directly due to a high content of glucoamylase. In addition, it is able to metabolize xylose. After 10 days cultivation in shake flasks, up to 9g/L ethanol was produced. The strain is believed to be able to produce bioethanol directly from food waste.
JST news release, March 30, 2015
Team of Kyoto and Ryukoku University finds thermophilic yeast for direct transformation of starch to bioethanol