ABSTRACT
Inulin, a fructan-type polysaccharide, consists of (2→1) linked β-d-fructosyl residues (n = 2–60), usually with a (1↔2) α-d-glucose end group. The applications of inulin and its hydrolyzed form oligofructose (n = 2–10) are diverse. They are widely used in the food industry to modify texture, to replace fat, or as low-calorie sweetener. Additionally, inulin is a good and cheaper substrate with great potential bioethanol production. The conversion efficiency of inulin to ethanol has been found to be about 83%–84%. Inulin-rich plants, such as Jerusalem artichoke, have been considered for fuel ethanol production. A consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) strategy has been focused on in this chapter, and it integrates inulinase production and saccharification. CBP carries out four biological processes in one bioreactor and does not require an enzyme-producing reactor, as separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) do.
