Methods using peracids for controlling corn ethanol fermentation process infection and yield loss

A method for reducing yield loss in ethanol fermentation processes comprising:

• applying a peracid composition to sanitize a fermentation system, wherein the peracid composition comprises a medium chain peracid;
• fermenting a mash in the presence of at least a residual portion of said peracid composition and yeast in a vessel of said fermentation system to produce ethanol and a solids content;
• reducing a microbial population of lactic acid bacteria and/or acetic acid bacteria;
• and
• distilling the fermented mash to separate at least a portion of the ethanol from said solids content,
• wherein the antimicrobial efficacy of said peracid composition does not interfere with yeast fermentation.

A method for replacing antibiotics in fermentation processes comprising:

• replacing an antibiotic used in a fermentation process to reduce and/or eliminate Lactobacillus and/or Acetobacter species with a peracid composition for application to a fermentation system;
• and
• introducing the peracid composition to a mash source, wherein the peracid composition comprises from about 0.0005 wt-% to about 5 wt-% peroxyoctanoic acid, from about 1 wt-% to about 10 wt-% octanoic acid, from about 5 wt-% to about 97 wt-% water, from about 0 wt-% to about 20 wt-% anionic surfactant, from about 0 wt-% to about 10 wt-% oxidizing agent;
• about 0 wt-% to about 35 wt-% inorganic acid, and from about 0 wt-% to about 5 wt-% sequestrant, and wherein the peracid composition does not interfere with yeast fermentation in a fermentation process.