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Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels

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A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 69735

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Dr. Konstantinos G. Kalogiannis

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Center for Research and Technology-Hellas, Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: biorefineries; biofuels; delignification and fractionation technologies; biomass and wastes valorization; pyrolysis; heterogeneous catalysis; thermochemical conversion technologies
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignocellulosic biomass, especially in the form of waste residues such as those produced in the agriculture and forestry industries, has garnered significant attention in recent years for the production of fuels and high added value chemicals. It is a sustainable and renewable source of carbon and hydrogen, and is therefore suitable to replace fossil resources, which has promoted the concept of the bio-refinery. Analogous to the conventional refinery, the bio-refinery seeks to fractionate the initial lignocellulosic feedstock into its main constituents: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Each one has unique chemistry, and therefore different chemical processes need to be developed for their efficient conversion to traditional and novel chemicals and fuels that will replace the fossil-derived ones.

The biochemical transformation of lignocellulosic biomass, employing enzymes and microorganisms found in nature and drawing inspiration from our ecosystem, is emerging as an important tool in bio-refinery technology. It has significant advantages, such as high selectivity and low production of toxic by-products, low energy requirements, and it requires water as a solvent and is therefore an extremely green process. However, significant challenges also need to be addressed. Enzymes are still expensive, efficient pretreatment of the biomass is needed in order to efficiently convert its fractions, and biochemical reactions can be slow, significantly increasing reactor sizes.

Nevertheless, the added value of fermentation processes is unequivocal. Fermentation can produce fuels in the form of alcohols, chemicals such as lactic and succinic acid that are the building blocks for novel polymers, phenols and phenol oligomers with targeted functionalities that are derived from lignin—the only renewable source of aromatic rings in abundance. Moreover, high added value products are especially interesting, such as food additives in the form of prebiotics and omega-3 fatty acids derived from microalgae or nanoparticles of lignin and cellulose, which are products with increased functionalities.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the emerging role of fermentation in the production of traditional and novel products and to underline the key challenges that arise in this demanding yet fulfilling research area.

Dr. Konstantinos G. Kalogiannis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

fermentation
biocatalysis
lignocellulosic biomass
platform chemicals
enzymatic hydrolysis
saccharification
green chemistry
pretreatment
chemical building blocks
fuels

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

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1 pages, 136 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels

by Konstantinos G. Kalogiannis

Fermentation 2021, 7(2), 77; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation7020077 - 13 May 2021

Viewed by 1483

Abstract

Rendezvous with Rama [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

12 pages, 14178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Basidiomycetes Wild Strains Grown in Agro-Industrial Residues for Their Anti-Tyrosinase and Antioxidant Potential and for the Production of Biocatalysts

by Anastasia Zerva, Nikolaos Tsafantakis and Evangelos Topakas

Fermentation 2021, 7(1), 19; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation7010019 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2988

Abstract

White-rot basidiomycetes are the only microorganisms with the ability to produce both hydrolytic (cellulases and hemicellulases) and oxidative (ligninolytic) enzymes for degrading cellulose/hemicellulose and lignin. In addition, they produce biologically active natural products with important application in cosmetic formulations, either as pure compounds or as standardized extracts. In the present work, three wild strains of Basidiomycetes fungi (Pleurotus citrinopileatus, Abortiporus biennis and Ganoderma resinaceum) from Greek habitats were grown in agro-industrial residues (oil mill wastewater, and corn cob) and evaluated for their anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activity and for the production of biotechnologically relevant enzymes. P. citrinopileatus showed the most interesting tyrosinase inhibitory activity, while A. biennis showed the highest DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) scavenging potential. Corn cobs were the most appropriate carbon source for maximizing the inhibitory effect of fungal biomasses on both activities, while the use of oil mill wastewater selectively increased the anti-tyrosinase potential of P. citrinopileatus culture filtrate. All strains were found to be preferential lignin degraders, similarly to most white-rot fungi. Bioinformatic analyses were performed on the proteome of the strains P. citrinopileatus and A. biennis, focusing on CAZymes with biotechnological relevance, and the results were compared with the enzyme activities of culture supernatants. Overall, all three strains showed strong production of oxidative enzymes for biomass conversion applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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16 pages, 1754 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Upcycling of Whey Permeate through Yeast- and Mold-Driven Fermentations under Anoxic and Oxic Conditions

by Justin Fisk Marcus, Timothy A. DeMarsh and Samuel David Alcaine

Fermentation 2021, 7(1), 16; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation7010016 - 26 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4266

Abstract

Dairy manufacturing generates whey by-products, many of them considered waste; others, such as whey permeate, a powder high in lactose and minerals from deproteinated whey, have unrealized potential. This study identified yeast species capable of utilizing lactose from whey permeate to produce ethanol or organic acids, and identified fungal species that reduced the acidity of whey by-products. Reconstituted whey permeate was fermented anaerobically or aerobically for 34 days, using species from Cornell University’s Food Safety Lab, Alcaine Research Group, and Omega Labs. Yeast species: Kluyveromyces marxianus, Kluyveromyces lactis, Dekkera anomala, Brettanomyces claussenii, Brettanomyces bruxellensis; mold species: Mucor genevensis and Aureobasidium pullulans. Density, pH, cell concentrations, organic acids, ethanol, and sugar profiles were monitored. Under anoxic conditions, K. marxianus exhibited the greatest lactose utilization and ethanol production (day 20: lactose non-detectable; 4.52% ± 0.02 ethanol). Under oxic conditions, D. anomala produced the most acetic acid (day 34: 9.18 ± 3.38 g/L), and A. pullulans utilized the most lactic acid, increasing the fermentate’s pH (day 34: 0.26 ± 0.21 g/L, pH: 7.91 ± 0.51). This study demonstrates that fermentation of whey could produce value-added alcoholic or organic acid beverages, or increase the pH of acidic by-products, yielding new products and increasing sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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15 pages, 1448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conversion of Xylose from Birch Hemicellulose Hydrolysate to 2,3-Butanediol with Bacillus vallismortis

by Anja Kuenz, Malee Jäger, Harri Niemi, Mari Kallioinen, Mika Mänttäri and Ulf Prüße

Fermentation 2020, 6(3), 86; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation6030086 - 02 Sep 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2837

Abstract

Biotechnologically produced 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) is a potential starting material for industrial bulk chemicals, such as butadiene or methyl ethyl ketone, which are currently produced from fossil feedstocks. So far, the highest 2,3-BDO concentrations have been obtained with risk class 2 microorganisms and pure glucose as substrate. However, as glucose stays in competition to food and feed industries, a lot of effort has been done in the last years finding efficient alternative substrates. Thereby xylose from hydrolysed wood hemicelluloses is a promising substrate for the production of 2,3-BDO. The risk class 1 microorganism Bacillus vallismortis strain was identified as a very promising 2,3-BDO producer. The strain is able to utilize xylose almost in the same manner as glucose. B. vallismortis is less prone to common inhibiting compounds in lignocellulosic extracts/hydrolysates. When using a concentrated hemicellulose fraction from birch wood hydrolysate, which was produced with ultrafiltration and after which the acetate concentration was reduced, a yield of 0.43 g g⁻¹ was achieved and the xylose consumption and the 2,3-BDO production is basically the same as using pure xylose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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17 pages, 674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Filamentous Fungal Biomass Cultivated on Vinasse as an Alternative Nutrient Source of Fish Feed: Protein, Lipid, and Mineral Composition

by Sajjad Karimi, Nasrollah Mahboobi Soofiani, Torbjörn Lundh, Amir Mahboubi, Anders Kiessling and Mohammad J. Taherzadeh

Fermentation 2019, 5(4), 99; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5040099 - 02 Dec 2019

Cited by 70 | Viewed by 9991

Abstract

The rapid growth of aquaculture and scarcity of conventional fish feed supplements has prompted the introduction of new sustainable supplementation sources. In this study, the potential of five strains of fungal biomass of Ascomycetes and Zygomycetes edible filamentous fungi, Aspergillus oryzae, Neurospora intermedia, Rizhopus oryzae, Monascus purpureus, and Fusarium venenatum, cultivated on vinasse, a by-product of the bioethanol industry, as alternative protein sources for fishmeal in the fish diet was evaluated. It was observed that 5% vinasse with an initial pH of 5–6.5 can support fungal biomass yields of 34.3 ± 2.4–118.5 ± 3.9 g DM/L for A. Oryzae, N. intermedia, and R. oryzae. High protein contents of about 44.7%, 57.6%, and 50.9% (w/w), and fat contents of 7.0%, 3.5%, and 5.5% (w/w) were obtained for A. oryzae, N. intermedia, and R. oryzae, respectively. The latter three fungi species contained noticeable amino acid contents, including promising profiles of amino acids that are highly compatible with those of fishmeal. These findings provide evidence that fungal biomasses, with their relatively high protein content, good amino acid profiles, and other essential nutrients, are a promising supplementation alternative that can be produced from low-value by-products and organic-rich waste streams like vinasse to meet the dietary protein requirements in fish feed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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10 pages, 699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pretreatment of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse for Ethanol Production Using Na₂CO₃ Obtained by NaOH Absorption of CO₂ Generated in Sweet Sorghum Juice Ethanol Fermentation

by Nhuan P. Nghiem and Matthew J. Toht

Fermentation 2019, 5(4), 91; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5040091 - 24 Oct 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3604

Abstract

(1) Background: Commercial production of fuel ethanol currently uses sugarcane and corn as feedstocks. Attempts to develop other renewable feedstocks that are more abundant have led to lignocellulosic biomass, which requires pretreatment prior to enzymatic hydrolysis to generate fermentable sugars. One of the largest cost components of pretreatment is chemical cost. Ethanol fermentation also produces large quantities of CO₂ as a co-product contributing to global warming. (2) Methods: Sweet sorghum has emerged as a potential new feedstock for ethanol production. In the present study, the CO₂ produced in sweet sorghum juice (SSJ) fermentation was captured by absorption in 5 M NaOH. The resultant Na₂CO₃ solution was used for pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB), which is the solid residue in SSJ extraction. The pretreated SSB was fermented in SSJ to produce additional ethanol. (3) Results: CO₂ absorption efficiency of 92.0% was observed. Pretreatment of SSB by the obtained Na₂CO₃ solution resulted in no loss of glucan and only 8.1 wt% loss of xylan. Ethanol yield from glucan in the pretreated SSB was 81.7% theoretical. (4) Conclusions: CO₂ from SSJ fermentation captured as Na₂CO₃ could be used for efficient SSB pretreatment. Further study focusing on pretreatment process optimization is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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19 pages, 1728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation and Modeling of Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer in a Sparged and Non-Sparged Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor with Potential Application in Syngas Fermentation

by Kan Liu, John R. Phillips, Xiao Sun, Sayeed Mohammad, Raymond L. Huhnke and Hasan K. Atiyeh

Fermentation 2019, 5(3), 75; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5030075 - 13 Aug 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6810

Abstract

Syngas (mixture of CO, H₂ and CO₂) fermentation suffers from mass transfer limitation due to low solubility of CO and H₂ in the liquid medium. Therefore, it is critical to characterize the mass transfer in syngas fermentation reactors to guide in delivery of syngas to the microorganisms. The objective of this study is to measure and predict the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k_La for O₂ at various operating conditions in a 7-L sparged and non-sparged continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). Measurements indicated that the k_La for O₂ increased with an increase in air flow rate and agitation speed. However, k_La for O₂ decreased with the increase in the headspace pressure. The highest k_La for O₂ with air sparged in the CSTR was 116 h⁻¹ at 600 sccm, 900 rpm, 101 kPa, and 3 L working volume. Backmixing of the headspace N₂ in the sparged CSTR reduced the observed k_La. The mass transfer model predicted the k_La for O₂ within 10% of the experimental values. The model was extended to predict the k_La for syngas components CO, CO₂ and H₂, which will guide in selecting operating conditions that minimize power input to the bioreactor and maximize the syngas conversion efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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10 pages, 518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of N₂ on Biological Methanation in a Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor with Methanothermobacter marburgensis

by Marc Philippe Hoffarth, Timo Broeker and Jan Schneider

Fermentation 2019, 5(3), 56; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5030056 - 02 Jul 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4496

Abstract

In this contribution, the effect of the presence of a presumed inert gas like

N_{2}

in the feed gas on the biological methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide with Methanothermobacter marburgensis was investigated.

N_{2}

can be found as a component besides [...] Read more.

In this contribution, the effect of the presence of a presumed inert gas like

N_{2}

in the feed gas on the biological methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide with Methanothermobacter marburgensis was investigated.

N_{2}

can be found as a component besides

{CO}_{2}

in possible feed gases like mine gas, weak gas, or steel mill gas. To determine whether there is an effect on the biological methanation of

{CO}_{2}

and

H_{2}

from renewable sources or not, the process was investigated using feed gases containing

{CO}_{2}

H_{2}

, and

N_{2}

in different ratios, depending on the

{CO}_{2}

content. A possible effect can be a lowered conversion rate of

{CO}_{2}

and

H_{2}

{CH}_{4}

. Feed gases containing up to 47%

N_{2}

were investigated. The conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide was possible with a conversion rate of up to 91% but was limited by the amount of

H_{2}

when feeding a stoichiometric ratio of 4:1 and not by adding

N_{2}

to the feed gas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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12 pages, 1401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kinetic Study on Heterotrophic Growth of Acetobacterium woodii on Lignocellulosic Substrates for Acetic Acid Production

by Supriya C. Karekar, Keerthi Srinivas and Birgitte K. Ahring

Fermentation 2019, 5(1), 17; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5010017 - 02 Feb 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5704

Abstract

Extensive research has been done on examining the autotrophic growth of Acetobacterium woodii with gaseous substrates (hydrogen and carbon dioxide) to produce acetic acid. However, only limited work has been performed on the heterotrophic growth of A. woodii using pure sugars or lignocellulosic feedstocks-derived sugars as substrates. In this study, we examine the growth kinetics and acetic acid production of A. woodii on glucose and xylose. While good growth was observed with glucose as substrate, no significant growth was obtained on xylose. Kinetic studies were performed in batch culture using different concentrations of glucose, ranging from 5 g/L to 40 g/L. The highest acetate production of 6.919 g/L with a product yield of 0.76 g acetic acid/g glucose was observed with 10 g/L glucose as initial substrate concentration. When testing A. woodii on corn stover hydrolysate (CSH) and wheat straw hydrolysate (WSH) formed after pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis, we found that A. woodii showed acetic acid production of 7.64 g/L and a product yield of 0.70 g acetic acid/g of glucose on WSH, while the acetic acid production was 7.83 g/L with a product yield of 0.65 g acetic acid/g of glucose on CSH. These results clearly demonstrate that A. woodii performed similarly on pure substrates and hydrolysates, and that the processes were not inhibited by the heterogenous components present in the lignocellulosic feedstock hydrolysates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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14 pages, 2451 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effects of Ultrasound on Fermentation of Glucose to Ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

by Luis Huezo, Ajay Shah and Frederick C. Michel Jr.

Fermentation 2019, 5(1), 16; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5010016 - 29 Jan 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7017

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that pretreatment of corn slurries using ultrasound improves starch release and ethanol yield during biofuel production. However, studies on its effects on the mass transfer of substrates and products during fermentation have shown that it can have both beneficial and inhibitory effects. In this study, the effects of ultrasound on mass transfer limitations during fermentation were examined. Calculation of the external and intraparticle observable moduli under a range of conditions indicate that no external or intraparticle mass transfer limitations should exist for the mass transfer of glucose, ethanol, or carbon dioxide. Fermentations of glucose to ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae were conducted at different ultrasound intensities to examine its effects on glucose uptake, ethanol production, and yeast population and viability. Four treatments were compared: direct ultrasound at intensities of 23 and 32 W/L, indirect ultrasound (1.4 W/L), and no-ultrasound. Direct and indirect ultrasound had negative effects on yeast performance and viability, and reduced the rates of glucose uptake and ethanol production. These results indicate that ultrasound during fermentation, at the levels applied, is inhibitory and not expected to improve mass transfer limitations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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12 pages, 607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Various Pretreatment Methods on Bioethanol Production from Cotton Stalks

by Konstantinos Dimos, Thomas Paschos, Argiro Louloudi, Konstantinos G. Kalogiannis, Angelos A. Lappas, Nikolaos Papayannakos, Dimitris Kekos and Diomi Mamma

Fermentation 2019, 5(1), 5; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation5010005 - 01 Jan 2019

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 6862

Abstract

Cotton stalks (CS) are considered a good candidate for fuel-ethanol production due to its abundance and high carbohydrate content, but the direct conversion without pretreatment always results in extremely low yields due to the recalcitrant nature of lignocelluloses. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of various chemical and physicochemical pretreatment methods, i.e., alkali, microwave-assisted acid, organosolv, hydrothermal treatment, and sequentially organosolv and hydrothermal pretreatment, on chemical composition of CS and subsequent ethanol production applying pre-hydrolysis and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PSSF) at high solid loading. The best results in terms of ethanol production were achieved by the sequential combination of organosolv and hydrothermal pretreatment (32.3 g/L, using 15% w/v substrate concentration and 6 h pre-hydrolysis) with an improvement of 32% to 50% in ethanol production compared to the other pretreatments. Extending pre-hydrolysis time to 14 h and increasing substrate concentration to 20% w/v, ethanol production reached 47.0 g/L (corresponding to an ethanol yield of 52%) after 30 h of fermentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

15 pages, 1847 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fermentation as an Alternative Process for the Development of Bioinsecticides

by Alejandra B. Omarini, Fernanda Achimón, Vanessa D. Brito and Julio A. Zygadlo

Fermentation 2020, 6(4), 120; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation6040120 - 08 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7048

Abstract

Currently, insect pest control is carried out through the application of synthetic insecticides which have been related to harmful effects on both human and environmental health, as well as to the development of resistant pest populations. In this context, the development of new and natural insecticides is necessary. Agricultural and forestry waste or by-products are very low-cost substrates that can be converted by microorganisms into useful value-added bioactive products through fermentation processes. In this review we discuss recent discoveries of compounds obtained from fermented substrates along with their insecticidal, antifeedant, and repellent activities. Fermentation products obtained from agricultural and forestry waste are described in detail. The fermentation of the pure secondary metabolite such as terpenes and phenols is also included. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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22 pages, 980 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Effects of Halogenated Compounds on the Anaerobic Digestion of Macroalgae

by Birthe V Nielsen, Supattra Maneein, Md Mahmud Al Farid and John J Milledge

Fermentation 2020, 6(3), 85; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fermentation6030085 - 27 Aug 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5258

Abstract

The urgent need to replace fossil fuels has seen macroalgae advancing as a potential feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The natural methane productivity (dry weight per hectare) of seaweeds is greater than in many terrestrial plant systems. As part of their defence systems, seaweeds, unlike terrestrial plants, produce a range of halogenated secondary metabolites, especially chlorinated and brominated compounds. Some orders of brown seaweeds also accumulate iodine, up to 1.2% of their dry weight. Fluorine remains rather unusual within the chemical structure. Halogenated hydrocarbons have moderate to high toxicities. In addition, halogenated organic compounds constitute a large group of environmental chemicals due to their extensive use in industry and agriculture. In recent years, concerns over the environmental fate and release of these halogenated organic compounds have resulted in research into their biodegradation and the evidence emerging shows that many of these compounds are more easily degraded under strictly anaerobic conditions compared to aerobic biodegradation. Biosorption via seaweed has become an alternative to the existing technologies in removing these pollutants. Halogenated compounds are known inhibitors of methane production from ruminants and humanmade anaerobic digesters. The focus of this paper is reviewing the available information on the effects of halogenated organic compounds on anaerobic digestion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Conversion: Fermentation Chemicals and Fuels)

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