Effectiveness of microbial pretreatment by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora on different biomass feedstocks

Enhancing biogas generation from lignocellulosic biomass through biological pretreatment: Exploring the role of ruminant microbes and anaerobic fungi

Biogas production from Lignocellulosic Biomass (LB) via anaerobic digestion (AD) has gained attention for its potential in self-sustainability. However, the recalcitrance of LB cell walls pose a challenge to its degradability and biogas generation. Therefore, pretreatment of LB is necessary to enhance lignin removal and increase degradability. Among the different approaches, environmentally friendly biological pretreatment ispromising as it avoids the production of inhibitors. The ruminal microbial community, including anaerobic fungi, bacteria, and protozoa, has shown an ability to effectively degrade LB through biomechanical and microbial penetration of refractory cell structures. In this review, we provide an overview of ruminant microbes dominating LB's AD, their degradation mechanism, and the bioaugmentation of the rumen. We also explore the potential cultivation of anaerobic fungi from the rumen, their enzyme potential, and their role in AD. The rumen ecosystem, comprising both bacteria and fungi, plays a crucial role in enhancing AD. This comprehensive review delves into the intricacies of ruminant microorganisms' adhesion to plant cells, elucidates degradation mechanisms, and explores integrated pretreatment approaches for the effective utilization of LB, minimizing the impact of inhibitors. The discussion underscores the considerable potential of ruminant microbes in pretreating LB, paving the way for sustainable biogas production. Optimizing fungal colonization and ligninolytic enzyme production, such as manganese peroxidase and laccase, significantly enhances the efficiency of fungal pretreatment. Integrating anaerobic fungi through bioaugmentation during mainstream processing demonstrably increases methane production. This study opens promising avenues for further research and development of these microorganisms for bioenergy production.

Advances in microbial pretreatment for biorefining of perennial grasses

Perennial grasses are potentially abundant sources of biomass for biorefineries, which can produce high yields with low input requirements, and many added environmental benefits. However, perennial grasses are highly recalcitrant to biodegradation and may require pretreatment before undergoing many biorefining pathways. Microbial pretreatment uses the ability of microorganisms or their enzymes to deconstruct plant biomass and enhance its biodegradability. This process can enhance the enzymatic digestibility of perennial grasses, enabling saccharification with cellulolytic enzymes to produce fermentable sugars and derived fermentation products. Similarly, microbial pretreatment can increase the methanation rate when the grasses are used to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion. Microorganisms can also increase the digestibility of the grasses to improve their quality as animal feed, enhance the properties of grass pellets, and improve biomass thermochemical conversion. Metabolites produced by fungi or bacteria during microbial pretreatment, such as ligninolytic and cellulolytic enzymes, can be further recovered as added-value products. Additionally, the action of the microorganisms can release chemicals with commercialization potential, such as hydroxycinnamic acids and oligosaccharides, from the grasses. This review explores the recent advances and remaining challenges in using microbial pretreatment for perennial grasses with the goal of obtaining added-value products through biorefining. It emphasizes recent trends in microbial pretreatment such as the use of microorganisms as part of microbial consortia or in unsterilized systems, the use and development of microorganisms and consortia capable of performing more than one biorefining step, and the use of cell-free systems based on microbial enzymes. KEY POINTS: • Microorganisms or enzymes can reduce the recalcitrance of grasses for biorefining • Microbial pretreatment effectiveness depends on the grass-microbe interaction • Microbial pretreatment can generate value added co-products to enhance feasibility.

Dual strategy for bioconversion of elephant grass biomass into fermentable sugars using Trichoderma reesei towards bioethanol production

In this study, biodelignification and enzymatic hydrolysis of elephant grass were performed by recombinant and native strain of Trichoderma reesei, respectively. Initially, rT. reesei displaying Lip8H and MnP1 gene was used for biodelignification with NiO nanoparticles. Saccharification was performed by combining hydrolytic enzyme produced with NiO nanoparticles. Elephant grass hydrolysate was used for bioethanol production using Kluyveromyces marxianus. Maximum lignolytic enzyme production was obtained with 15 µg/L of NiO nanoparticles and initial pH of 5 at 32 °C. Subsequently, about 54% of lignin degradation was achieved after 192 h. Hydrolytic enzymes showed elevated enzyme activity and resulted in 84.52 ± 3.5 g/L of total reducing sugar at 15 µg/mL NiO NPs. About 14.65 ± 1.75 g/L of ethanol was produced using K. marxianus after 24 h. Thus, dual strategy employed for conversion of elephant grass biomass into fermentable sugar and subsequent biofuel production could become potential platform for commercialization.

Analysis of Single-Step Pretreatments for Lignocellulosic Platform Isolation as the Basis of Biorefinery Design

Biorefinery feasibility is highly influenced by the early design of the best feedstock transformation pathway to obtain value-added products. Pretreatment has been identified as the critical stage in biorefinery design since proper pretreatment influences subsequent reaction, separation, and purification processes. However, many pretreatment analyses have focused on preserving and valorizing six-carbon sugars for future use in bioconversion processes, leaving aside fractions such as hemicellulose and lignin. To date, there has been no pretreatment systematization for the removal of lignocellulosic fractions. This work defines pretreatment efficacy through operational, economic, environmental, and social indicators. Thus, using the data reported in the literature, as well as the results of the simulation schemes, a multi-criteria weighting of the best-performing schemes for the isolation or removal of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin was carried out. As a main result, it was concluded that dilute acid is the most effective for cellulose isolation and hemicellulose removal for producing platform products based on six- and five-carbon sugars, respectively. Additionally, the kraft process is the best methodology for lignin removal and its future use in biorefineries. The results of this work help to elucidate a methodological systematization of the pretreatment efficacy in the design of biorefineries as an early feasibility stage considering sustainability aspects.

Use of Anthracophyllum Discolor and Stereum Hirsutum as a Suitable Strategy for Delignification and Phenolic Removal of Olive Mill Solid Waste

This study evaluated the use of the white-rot fungi (WRF) Anthracophyllum discolor and Stereum hirsutum as a biological pretreatment for olive mill solid mill waste (OMSW). The WRF strains proposed were added directly to OMSW. The assays consisted of determining the need to add supplementary nutrients, an exogenous carbon source or use agitation systems, and evaluating WRF growth, enzyme activity, phenolic compound removal and lignin degradation. The highest ligninolytic enzyme activity was found at day 10, reaching 176.7 U/L of manganese-independent peroxidase (MniP) produced by A. discolor, and the highest phenolic removal (more than 80% with both strains) was reached after 24 days of incubation. The confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis (CLSM) confirmed lignin degradation through the drop in lignin relative fluorescence units (RFU) from 3967 for untreated OMSW to 235 and 221 RFU, showing a lignin relative degradation of 94.1% and 94.4% after 24 days of treatment by A. discolor and S. hirsutum, respectively. The results demonstrate for the first time that A. discolor and S. hirsutum were able to degrade lignin and remove phenolic compounds from OMSW using this as the sole substrate without adding other nutrients or using agitation systems. This work indicates that it could be possible to design an in situ pretreatment of the valorization of OMSW, avoiding complex systems or transportation. In this sense, future research under non-sterile conditions is needed to evaluate the competition of WRF with other microorganisms present in the OMSW. The main drawbacks of this work are associated with both the low reaction time and the water addition. However, OMSW is seasonal waste produced in one season per year, being stored for a long time. In terms of water addition, the necessary optimization will be addressed in future research.

Assessment of the Pretreatments and Bioconversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass Recovered from the Husk of the Cocoa Pod

The production of biofuels (biogas, ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, and solid fuels, etc.), beginning with cocoa pod husk (CPH), is a way for obtaining a final product from the use of the principal waste product of the cocoa industry. However, there are limitations to the bioconversion of the material due to its structural components (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). Currently, CPH pretreatment methods are considered a good approach towards the improvement of both the degradation process and the production of biogas or ethanol. The present document aims to set out the different methods for pretreating lignocellulosic material, which are: physical (grinding and extrusion, among others); chemical (acids and alkaline); thermochemical (pyrolysis); ionic liquid (salts); and biological (microorganism) to improve biofuel production. The use of CPH as a substrate in bioconversion processes is a viable and promising option, despite the limitations of each pretreatment method.

Sequential fungal pretreatment of unsterilized Miscanthus: changes in composition, cellulose digestibility and microbial communities

A sequential fungal pretreatment of Miscanthus × giganteus was conducted by mixing unsterilized Miscanthus with material previously colonized with the white-rot fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. For three generations, each generation started with inoculation by mixing unsterilized fresh Miscanthus with end material from the previous generation and ended after 28 days of incubation at 28 °C. After the first generation, the cellulose digestibility of the material doubled, compared to that of the unsterilized Miscanthus, but the second and third generations showed no enhancements in cellulose digestibility. Furthermore, high degradation of Miscanthus structural carbohydrates occurred during the first generation. A microbial community study showed that, even though the fungal community of the material previously colonized by C. subvermispora was composed mainly of this fungus (> 99%), by the first generation its relative abundance was down to only 9%, and other microbes had prevailed. Additionally, changes in the bacterial community occurred that might be associated with unwanted cellulose degradation in the system. This reiterates the necessity of feedstock microbial load reduction for the stability and reproducibility of fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. KEY POINTS: • Sequential fungal pretreatment of unsterilized Miscanthus was unsuccessful. • Feedstock changes with white-rot fungi favored the growth of other microorganisms. • Feedstock microbial reduction is necessary for pretreatment with C. subvermispora.

Simultaneous Biological Pretreatment and Saccharification of Rice Straw by Ligninolytic Enzymes from Panus neostrigosus I9 and Commercial Cellulase

The utilization of rice straw for biofuel production is limited by its composition. The pretreatment process is required to improve the enzymatic accessibility of polysaccharides in the biomass prior to enzymatic saccharification. In this study, simultaneous biological pretreatment and saccharification (SPS) of rice straw starting from laccase production by Panus neostrigosus I9 was operated in a 2-L fermenter. It was found that fungal physiology was strongly influenced by the agitation, and that the highest laccase production was obtained at an agitation speed of 750 rpm (209.96 ± 0.34 U/L). The dilution rate of 0.05 h-1 was set in continuous fermentation which resulted in laccase activity of 678.49 ± 20.39 U/L, approximately three times higher than that in batch culture. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to achieve the condition for maximum percentage of delignification. The maximum percentage of delignification of 45.55% was accomplished after pretreatment of rice straw with laccase enzyme 39.40 U/g rice straw at 43.70 °C for 11.19 h. Reducing sugar of 3.85 ± 0.15 g/L was obtained from the digested rice straw in a SPS reactor, while non-pretreated rice straw gave only 1.13 ± 0.10 g/L within 12 h of incubation. The results indicated that simultaneous biological pretreatment and saccharification (SPS) of rice straw by laccase helped to improve the accessibility of cellulose by cellulolytic enzymes.

A comprehensive study of the promoting effect of manganese on white rot fungal treatment for enzymatic hydrolysis of woody and grass lignocellulose

BACKGROUND

The efficiency of biological systems as an option for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass has to be improved to make the process practical. Fungal treatment with manganese (Mn) addition for improving lignocellulosic biomass fractionation and enzyme accessibility were investigated in this study. The broad-spectrum effect was tested on two different types of feedstocks with three fungal species. Since the physicochemical and structural properties of biomass were the main changes caused by fungal degradation, detailed characterization of biomass structural features was conducted to understand the mechanism of Mn-enhanced biomass saccharification.

RESULTS

The glucose yields of fungal-treated poplar and wheat straw increased by 2.97- and 5.71-fold, respectively, after Mn addition. Particularly, over 90% of glucose yield was achieved in Mn-assisted Pleurotus ostreatus-treated wheat straw. A comparison study using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and two-dimensional 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (2D HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was conducted to elucidate the role of Mn addition on fungal disruption of the cross-linked structure of whole plant cell wall. The increased Cα-oxidized products was consistent with the enhanced cleavage of the major β-O-4 ether linkages in poplar and wheat straw lignin or in the wheat straw lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs), which led to the reduced condensation degree in lignin and decreased lignin content in Mn-assisted fungal-treated biomass. The correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) further demonstrated that Mn addition to fungal treatment enhanced bond cleavage in lignin, especially the β-O-4 ether linkage cleavage played the dominant role in removing the biomass recalcitrance and contributing to the glucose yield enhancement. Meanwhile, enhanced deconstruction of LCCs was important in reducing wheat straw recalcitrance. The findings provided not only mechanistic insights into the Mn-enhanced biomass digestibility by fungus, but also a strategy for improving biological pretreatment efficiency of lignocellulose.

CONCLUSION

The mechanism of enhanced saccharification of biomass by Mn-assisted fungal treatment mainly through Cα-oxidative cleavage of β-O-4 ether linkages further led to the decreased condensation degree in lignin, as a result, biomass recalcitrance was significantly reduced by Mn addition.

Fungal Pretreatments on Non-Sterile Solid Digestate to Enhance Methane Yield and the Sustainability of Anaerobic Digestion

Fungi can run feedstock pretreatment to improve the hydrolysis and utilization of recalcitrant lignocellulose-rich biomass during anaerobic digestion (AD). In this study, three fungal strains (Coprinopsis cinerea MUT 6385, Cyclocybe aegerita MUT 5639, Cephalotrichum stemonitis MUT 6326) were inoculated in the non-sterile solid fraction of digestate, with the aim to further (re)use it as a feedstock for AD. The application of fungal pretreatments induced changes in the plant cell wall polymers, and different profiles were observed among strains. Significant increases (p < 0.05) in the cumulative biogas and methane yields with respect to the untreated control were observed. The most effective pretreatment was carried out for 20 days with C. stemonitis, causing the highest hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose reduction (59.3%, 9.6%, and 8.2%, respectively); the cumulative biogas and methane production showed a 182% and 214% increase, respectively, compared to the untreated control. The increase in AD yields was ascribable both to the addition of fungal biomass, which acted as an organic feedstock, and to the lignocellulose transformation due to fungal activity during pretreatments. The developed technologies have the potential to enhance the anaerobic degradability of solid digestate and untap its biogas potential for a further digestion step, thus allowing an improvement in the environmental and economic sustainability of the AD process and the better management of its by-products.

Construction and characterization of a chimeric enzyme of swollenin and xylanase to improve soybean straw hydrolysis

A study was carried out to produce a fusion protein (Swo-Xyn) using the Trichoderma reesei swollenin and Lentinula edodes xylanase and to investigate its characteristics and application in degrading soybean straw. In parallel, L. edodes xylanase (Xyn) alone was used as a control protein in application tests. The Swo-Xyn was recombined, expressed and produced by Pichia pastoris and had the maximum activity at 40 °C and pH 3.0 using xylan as substrate. The Swo-Xyn exhibited preferential hydrolysis of Xylan. The Swo-Xyn had slight low Km value (23.90 vs. 25.36 mg/ml) but significantly low Vmax value (162.4 vs. 227.2 μmol/mg·min) and specific activity (18.82 vs. 38.97 U/mg) relative to the Xyn. The Swo-Xyn activity was enhanced by Zn2+ in dose dependent manners with the peak activity at 30 mM of Zn2+. The Swo-Xyn could tolerate 15% of methanol, ethanol, aceton, and DMSO with >60% residual activity. The Swo-Xyn had the greater tolerance to SDS, EDTA, 2-ME than the Xyn and could be activated by DTT, Triton X-100, and Tween 20. Compared with the Xyn, the hydrolysis and sequent cellulose enzymolysis of soybean straw could be better improved by the Swo-Xyn. The Swo-Xyn should be more useful for improving the utilization of soybean straw.

Recombinant Lentinula edodes xylanase improved the hydrolysis and in vitro ruminal fermentation of soybean straw by changing its fiber structure

Soybean straw cannot be efficiently degraded and utilized by ruminants due to the complex cross-linked structure among cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in its cell wall. Xylanase can degrade the xylan component of hemicellulose, destroy the xylan-lignin matrix and, consequently, would theoretically improve the hydrolysis effectiveness of cellulose. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the effects of recombinant Lentinula edodes xylanase (rLeXyn11A) on fiber structure, hydrolysis, and in vitro ruminal fermentation of soybean straw. Treatment with rLeXyn11A enhanced the hydrolysis of soybean straw with an evident increase in productions of ribose, rhamnose, and xylose. Soybean straw treated by rLeXyn11A had lower hemicellulose content and greater cellulose and lignin contents. The rLeXyn11A could remove xylan, loosen unordered fibrous networks, enhance substrate porosity, and rearrange lignin, consequently increasing the exposure of cellulose and improving the cellulase hydrolysis of soybean straw. Supplemental rLeXyn11A stimulated the dry matter digestion, volatile fatty acids production, and microbial protein synthesis during in vitro ruminal incubation. This paper demonstrated that rLeXyn11A could strengthen the cellulase hydrolysis and in vitro ruminal fermentation of soybean straw by degrading xylan and changing fiber structure, showing its potential for improving the utilization of soybean straw in ruminants.

Persistent action of cow rumen microorganisms in enhancing biodegradation of wheat straw by rumen fermentation

Rumen fermentation is known to be effective for lignocellulosic-wastes biodegradation to certain extent but it is still unclear if there exists a termination of the microorganisms' action to further degrade the bio-refractory fractions. In order to illuminate the related microbiological characteristics, experiments were conducted in a prolonged duration of rumen fermentation of mechanically ruptured wheat straw, with inoculation of cow rumen microorganisms in vitro. Although the organic wastes could not be biodegraded quickly, continuous conversion of the lignocellulosic contents to volatile fatty acids and biogas proceeded in the duration of more than three months, resulting in 96-97% cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition, and 42% lignin decomposition. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy further demonstrated the characteristics of lignocellulosic structure decomposition. Under the actions of cow rumen microorganisms, stable pH was maintained in the fermentation liquid, along with a steady NH₄⁺-N, volatile fatty acids accumulation, and a large buffering ability. It was identified by enzyme analysis and Illumina MiSeq sequencing that the rich core lignocellulolytic enzymes secreted by the abundant and diverse rumen bacteria and fungi contributed to the persistent degradation of lignocellulosic wastes. Members of the Clostridiales order and Basidiomycota phylum were found to be the dominant lignocellulolytic bacteria and fungi, respectively. It could thus be inferred that the main lignocellulose degradation processes were a series of catalytic reactions under the actions of lignocellulolytic enzymes secreted from bacteria and fungi. The dominant hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanomassiliicoccus, Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera, and Methanoculleus) in the rumen could also assist CH₄ production if the rumen fermentation was followed with anaerobic digestion.

Comparative Evaluation of Organic Acid Pretreatment of Eucalyptus for Kraft Dissolving Pulp Production

Pretreatment is an essential process for the extensive utilization of lignocellulose materials. The effect of four common organic acid pretreatments for Kraft dissolving pulp production was comparatively investigated. It was found that under acidic conditions, hemicellulose can be effectively removed and more reducing sugars can be recovered. During acetic acid pretreatment, lignin that was dissolved in acetic acid could form a lignin-related film which would alleviate cellulose hydrolysis, while other organic acids caused severe cellulose degradation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used to characterize the pretreated chips in the process. Lignin droplets were attached to the surface of the treated wood chips according to the SEM results. The FTIR spectrum showed that the lignin peak signal becomes stronger, and the hemicellulose peak signal becomes weaker with acid pretreatment. The XRD spectrum demonstrated that the crystallinity index of the wood chips increased. The acetic acid pretreatment process-assisted Kraft process achieved higher yield (31.66%) and higher α-cellulose (98.28%) than any other organic acid pretreatment. Furthermore, extensive utilization of biomass was evaluated with the acetic acid pretreatment-assisted Kraft process. 43.8% polysaccharide (12.14% reducing sugar and 31.66% dissolving pulp) and 22.24% lignin (0.29% acetic acid lignin and 21.95% sulfate lignin) were recovered during the process. Biomass utilization could reach 66.04%. Acetic acid pretreatment is a promising process for extensive biomass utilization.

Modification of corn stover for improving biodegradability and anaerobic digestion performance by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Ceriporiopsis subvermispora was used to modify corn stover for improving the biodegradability and biomethane yield. Corn stover was incubated with C. subvermispora for 5-90 days then anaerobically digested. It was found that the corn stover modified for 15 days achieved the highest biomethane yield of 235 mL·g^-1 VS, which was an increase of 15.2% over that of the non-modified one. The mechanism analyses indicated that the improvement resulted from the combined roles of degradation selectivity, destruction of lignocellulosic structures, and linkages. The analyses showed that C. subvermispora has a high relative selectivity of lignin degradation. The structure of the lignin and the linkages among lignin and hemicellulose and cellulose were broken obviously by acetyl group removal, and the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose was increased by 35.61%. The finding indicated that C. subvermispora modification is one of the effective methods for enhancing biomethane yield of corn stover.

Techno-Economic Bottlenecks of the Fungal Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Fungal pretreatment is a biological process that uses rotting fungi to reduce the recalcitrance and enhance the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic feedstocks at low temperature, without added chemicals and wastewater generation. Thus, it has been presumed to be low cost. However, fungal pretreatment requires longer incubation times and generates lower yields than traditional pretreatments. Thus, this study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of a fungal pretreatment facility for the production of fermentable sugars for a 75,700 m3 (20 million gallons) per year cellulosic bioethanol plant. Four feedstocks were evaluated: perennial grasses, corn stover, agricultural residues other than corn stover, and hardwood. The lowest estimated sugars production cost ($1.6/kg) was obtained from corn stover, and was 4–15 times as much as previous estimates for conventional pretreatment technologies. The facility-related cost was the major contributor (46–51%) to the sugar production cost, mainly because of the requirement of large equipment in high quantities, due to process bottlenecks such as low sugar yields, low feedstock bulk density, long fungal pretreatment times, and sterilization requirements. At the current state of the technology, fungal pretreatment at biorefinery scale does not appear to be economically feasible, and considerable process improvements are still required to achieve product cost targets.

Deciphering the Fenton-reaction-aid lignocellulose degradation pattern by Phanerochaete chrysosporium with ferroferric oxide nanomaterials: Enzyme secretion, straw humification and structural alteration

Nowadays, Nano-biotechnology is emerging to be one of the most promising tools in environmental remediation. In this study, the degradation efficiency of lignocellulose by white-rot fungi was improved by addition of Fe₃O₄ nanomaterials (NMs) in solid-state fermentation. The highly-ordered cellulose crystalline was demonstrated to be broken down through infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and crystallinity index analysis. The decay of fluorescence intensity presented a lower degree of aromatic polycondensation and less conjugated chromophores in lignocellulose. Mechanistic analysis showed that NMs participated in the Fenton reaction and affected lignocellulose biodegradation process by regulating enzyme secretion. Specifically, the time variation curves of hydroxyl radicals and Fe²⁺ were discussed to illustrate the degradation pattern. The NMs remained stable after the fermentation and were possible to be recycled for the next cycle. All the results support that the synergism of Fe₃O₄ NMs and white-rot fungi would be a promising research direction in lignocellulose treatment.

Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion for Waste Management and Biogas Production

Solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) is commonly used to treat feedstocks with high solid content such as municipal solid waste and lignocellulosic biomass. Compared to liquid state anaerobic digestion (LS-AD), SS-AD has multiple advantages including high organic loading, minimal digestate generated, and low energy requirement for heating. However, the main disadvantages limiting the efficiency of SS-AD are long solid retention time, incomplete mixing, and an accumulation of inhibitors. For a successful and efficient SS-AD, it is important to control operation parameters such as nutrient levels, C/N ratio, feedstock-to-inoculum ratio, pH, temperature, and mixing. Biogas production in SS-AD performance can be enhanced by feedstock pretreatment, co-digestion, and supplement of additives such as biochar. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive summary of the current development in SS-AD as an effective way for treating solid waste materials. Graphical Abstract.

Oxidoreductases and Reactive Oxygen Species in Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Biomass constitutes an appealing alternative to fossil resources for the production of materials and energy. The abundance and attractiveness of vegetal biomass come along with challenges pertaining to the intricacy of its structure, evolved during billions of years to face and resist abiotic and biotic attacks. To achieve the daunting goal of plant cell wall decomposition, microorganisms have developed many (enzymatic) strategies, from which we seek inspiration to develop biotechnological processes. A major breakthrough in the field has been the discovery of enzymes today known as lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), which, by catalyzing the oxidative cleavage of recalcitrant polysaccharides, allow canonical hydrolytic enzymes to depolymerize the biomass more efficiently. Very recently, it has been shown that LPMOs are not classical monooxygenases in that they can also use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidant. This discovery calls for a revision of our understanding of how lignocellulolytic enzymes are connected since H2O2 is produced and used by several of them. The first part of this review is dedicated to the LPMO paradigm, describing knowns, unknowns, and uncertainties. We then present different lignocellulolytic redox systems, enzymatic or not, that depend on fluxes of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on an assessment of these putatively interconnected systems, we suggest that fine-tuning of H2O2 levels and proximity between sites of H2O2 production and consumption are important for fungal biomass conversion. In the last part of this review, we discuss how our evolving understanding of redox processes involved in biomass depolymerization may translate into industrial applications.

New insight into the effect of fungal mycelia present in the bio-pretreated paddy straw on their enzymatic saccharification and optimization of process parameters

Assessment of Pleurotus florida efficiency on paddy straw pretreatment and optimization of saccharification parameters were studied. P. florida growth was monitored by the estimation of fungal cell wall component (glucosamine). The control bio-pretreatment sample showed high glucosamine content by 397 mg/g in 28 days of incubation. But, the Inhibitor Mediated Biological (IMB) Pretreatment showed 29% lower result due to the inhibition of cellulase enzyme limits mycelial penetration rate inside the paddy straw. Fungal components present inside the pretreated straw renders nonspecific interactions with the hydrolytic enzymes during saccharification process and reducing the hydrolysis efficiency. IMB pretreated paddy straw showed maximum saccharification efficiency up to 75.3% with optimized condition (Biomass loading- 10% (w/v), Enzyme loading- 20 FPU/g and saccharification time - 72 h) than control pretreatment sample. Thus, the study brings out new insight into the effect of fungal residues inside the bio-pretreated paddy straw during enzymatic saccharification to improve the efficiency.

Flammulina velutipes treatment of non-sterile tall wheat grass for enhancing biodegradability and methane production

In this study fungal pretreatment of non-sterile tall wheat grass via the white rot fungi Flammulina velutipes was studied and the effect on biodegradability of lignocellulosic biomass and methane production, was evaluated. Degradation of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and dry matter in non-sterile tall wheat grass during 28 days of fungal pretreatment using different inoculum ratio (0%-50%) and moisture content (MC) (45% MC, 65% MC, and 75% MC) were assessed via comparison to untreated biomass. Pretreatment with F. velutipes was most effective at 65% MC and 40% inoculum ratio, resulting in 22% lignin removal. The corresponding methane yields were 181.3 Ndm³·kg VS^-1, which were 280% higher than for the untreated tall wheat grass.

Bioethanol Production from Renewable Raw Materials and Its Separation and Purification: A Review

Production of biofuels from renewable feedstocks has captured considerable scientific attention since they could be used to supply energy and alternative fuels. Bioethanol is one of the most interesting biofuels due to its positive impact on the environment. Currently, it is mostly produced from sugar- and starch-containing raw materials. However, various available types of lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural and forestry residues, and herbaceous energy crops could serve as feedstocks for the production of bioethanol, energy, heat and value-added chemicals. Lignocellulose is a complex mixture of carbohydrates that needs an efficient pretreatment to make accessible pathways to enzymes for the production of fermentable sugars, which after hydrolysis are fermented into ethanol. Despite technical and economic difficulties, renewable lignocellulosic raw materials represent low-cost feedstocks that do not compete with the food and feed chain, thereby stimulating the sustainability. Different bioprocess operational modes were developed for bioethanol production from renewable raw materials. Furthermore, alternative bioethanol separation and purification processes have also been intensively developed. This paper deals with recent trends in the bioethanol production as a fuel from different renewable raw materials as well as with its separation and purification processes.

Biological strategies for enhanced hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass during anaerobic digestion: Current status and future perspectives

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable bioresource on earth. In lignocellulosic biomass, the cellulose and hemicellulose are bound with lignin and other molecules to form a complex structure not easily accessible to microbial degradation. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of lignocellulosic biomass with a focus on improving hydrolysis, the rate limiting step in AD of lignocellulosic feedstocks, has received considerable attention. This review highlights challenges with AD of lignocellulosic biomass, factors contributing to its recalcitrance, and natural microbial ecosystems, such as the gastrointestinal tracts of herbivorous animals, capable of performing hydrolysis efficiently. Biological strategies that have been evaluated to enhance hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass include biological pretreatment, co-digestion, and inoculum selection. Strategies to further improve these approaches along with future research directions are outlined with a focus on linking studies of microbial communities involved in hydrolysis of lignocellulosics to process engineering.

White-rot fungi pretreatment combined with alkaline/oxidative pretreatment to improve enzymatic saccharification of industrial hemp

White-rot fungi combined with alkaline/oxidative (A/O) pretreatments of industrial hemp woody core were proposed to improve enzymatic saccharification. In this study, hemp woody core were treated with only white rot fungi, only A/O and combined with the two methods. The results showed that Pleurotus eryngii (P. eryngii) was the most effective fungus for pretreatment. Reducing sugars yield was 329mg/g with 30 Filter Paper Unit (FPU)/g cellulase loading when treated 21day. In the A/O groups, the results showed that when treated with 3% NaOH and 3% H₂O₂, the yield of reducing sugars was 288mg/g with 30FPU/g cellulase loading. After combination pretreatment with P. eryngii and A/O pretreatment, the reducing sugar yield from enzymatic hydrolysis of combined sample increased 1.10-1.29-fold than that of bio-treated or A/O pretreatment sample at the same conditions, suggesting that P. eryngii combined with A/O pretreatment was an effective method to improve enzyme hydrolysis.

Lignocellulose degradation patterns, structural changes, and enzyme secretion by Inonotus obliquus on straw biomass under submerged fermentation

This study examined the white rot fungus I. obliquus on the degradation of three types of straw biomass and the production of extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes under submerged fermentation. The fungus process resulted in a highest lignin loss of 72%, 39%, and 47% in wheat straw, rice straw, and corn stover within 12days, respectively. In merely two days, the fungus selectively degraded wheat straw lignin by 37%, with only limited cellulose degradation (13%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the fungus most effectively degraded the wheat straw lignin and rice straw crystalline cellulose. Scanning electronic microscopy showed the most pronounced structural changes in wheat straw. High activities of manganese peroxidase (159.0U/mL) and lignin peroxidase (123.4U/mL) were observed in wheat straw culture on Day 2 and 4, respectively. Rice straw was the best substrate to induce the production of cellulase and xylanase.

Accumulation of sugar from pulp and xylitol from xylose by pyruvate decarboxylase-negative white-rot fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60

Phlebia sp. MG-60 is a white-rot fungus that produces ethanol with high efficiency from lignocellulosic biomass without additional enzymes. Through engineering of this powerful metabolic pathway for fermentation in Phlebia sp. MG-60, chemical compounds other than ethanol could be produced. Here, we demonstrate sugar accumulation from unbleached hardwood kraft pulp and conversion of xylose to xylitol by pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc)-negative Phlebia sp. MG-60. We isolated Phlebia sp. strain MG-60-P2 from protoplasts to unify the protoplast phenotypes of the regenerated strains. Homologous recombination achieved a stable pdc-knockout line, designated KO77. The KO77 line produced traces of ethanol, but accumulated xylitol from xylose or glucose from unbleached hardwood kraft pulp. These metabolic changes in the pdc-knockout strain reflect the potential of metabolic engineering in Phlebia sp. MG-60 for direct production of chemical compounds from lignocellulosic biomass.

Effects of Liquid Hot Water Pretreatment on Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Physicochemical Changes of Corncobs

Liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment is an efficient chemical-free strategy for enhancing enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass for conversion to fuels and chemicals in biorefinery. In this study, effects of LHW on removals of hemicelluloses and lignin from corncobs were studied under varying reaction conditions. LHW pretreatment at 160 °C for 10 min promoted the highest levels of hemicellulose solubilization into the liquid phase, resulting into the maximized pentose yield of 58.8% in the liquid and more than 60% removal of lignin from the solid, with 73.1% glucose recovery from enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated biomass using 10 FPU/g Celluclast™. This led to the maximal glucose and pentose recoveries of 81.9 and 71.2%, respectively, when combining sugars from the liquid phase from LHW and hydrolysis of the solid. Scanning electron microscopy revealed disruption of the intact biomass structure allowing increasing enzyme's accessibility to the cellulose microfibers which showed higher crystallinity index compared to the native biomass as shown by x-ray diffraction with a marked increase in surface area as revealed by BET measurement. The work provides an insight into effects of LHW on modification of physicochemical properties of corncobs and an efficient approach for its processing in biorefinery industry.

Enhancement in multiple lignolytic enzymes production for optimized lignin degradation and selectivity in fungal pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse

The objective of this work was to study the increase in multiple lignolytic enzyme productions through the use of supplements in combination in pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) by Coriolus versicolor such that enzymes act synergistically to maximize the lignin degradation and selectivity. Enzyme activities were enhanced by metallic salts and phenolic compound supplements in SSF. Supplement of syringic acid increased the activities of LiP, AAO and laccase; gallic acid increased MnP; CuSO₄ increased laccase and PPO to improve the lignin degradations and selectivity individually, higher than control. Combination of supplements optimized by RSM increased the production of laccase, LiP, MnP, PPO and AAO by 17.2, 45.5, 3.5, 2.4 and 3.6 folds respectively for synergistic action leading to highest lignin degradation (2.3 folds) and selectivity (7.1 folds). Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated SSB yielded ∼2.43 times fermentable sugar. This technique could be widely applied for pretreatment and enzyme productions.

Improvement of selective lignin degradation in fungal pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse using synergistic CuSO4-syringic acid supplements

Sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) generated in large quantities could be hydrolyzed to sugar and then fermented to green fuels. The hydrolysis of SSB polysaccharides interlocked in recalcitrant lignin network is the major problem. Pretreatment of SSB in SSF by using Coriolus versicolor with CuSO₄-syringic acid supplements for effects on production of ligninocellulolytic enzymes, lignin degradation and selectivity values (SV) were studied. C. versicolor was selected based on high ligninolytic and low cellulolytic abilily. Individually, CuSO₄ increased the activities of laccase (4.9 folds) and PPO (1.9 folds); syringic acid increased LiP (13 folds), AAO (2.8 folds) and laccase (5.6 folds) resulting in increased lignin degradation and SVs. Combined syringic acid (4.4 μmol g^-1 SSB) and CuSO₄ (4.4 μmol g^-1 SSB) increased the activities of laccase, LiP, MnP, PPO and AAO by 11.2, 17.6, 2.8, 2.4 and 2.3 folds respectively due to synergistic effect, resulting in maximum lignin degradation 35.9 ± 1.3% (w w^-1) (1.86 fold) and highest SV 3.07 (4.7 fold). Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated SSB yielded higher (∼2.2 times) fermentable sugar. Pretreated SSB was characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR and TGA/DTG analysis to confirm results. It is possible to improve fungal pretreatment of agricultural waste by combination of supplements.

Anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomasses pretreated with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Fungal pretreatment by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora of two forest residues (hazel and acacia branches) and two agricultural lignocellulosic residues (barley straw and sugarcane bagasse) were studied as a pretreatment to improve their subsequent anaerobic digestion for methane production. Biomass samples were grinded to 2 ranges of particle sizes (<4 or 1 mm), autoclaved, inoculated with two strains of C. subvermispora (ATCC 90467 and ATCC 96608) and incubated at 28 °C for 28 days. The effects of fungal pretreatment were assessed by analyzing the samples before and after incubations for dry solids mass, biochemical composition, bio-methane production (BMP) and availability of cellulose to hydrolysis. The production of ligninolytic enzymes MnP and/or laccase was observed with both strains during incubation on most of the samples tested. It almost doubled the hazel branches BMP per unit mass of dry solids but did not improve however the BMP of the agricultural residues and acacia branches. These observations were explained by the fact that although both strains were able to degrade 20-25% of lignin in <1 mm and <4 mm hazel branches samples, none of them was successful however to significantly degrade lignin in the other samples, except for sugarcane bagasse.

Biotransformation of lignocellulosic materials into value-added products-A review

In the past decade, with the key biotechnological advancements, lignocellulosic materials have gained a particular importance. In serious consideration of global economic, environmental and energy issues, research scientists have been re-directing their interests in (re)-valorizing naturally occurring lignocellulosic-based materials. In this context, lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs) have gained considerable attention in numerous industrial and biotechnological processes. However, their lower catalytic efficiencies and operational stabilities limit their practical and multipurpose applications in various sectors. Therefore, to expand the range of natural industrial biocatalysts e.g. LMEs, significant progress related to the enzyme biotechnology has appeared. Owing to the abundant lignocellulose availability along with LMEs in combination with the scientific advances in the biotechnological era, solid-phase biocatalysts can be economically tailored on a large scale. This review article outlines first briefly on the lignocellulose materials as a potential source for biotransformation into value-added products including composites, fine chemicals, nutraceutical, delignification, and enzymes. Comprehensive information is also given on the purification and characterization of LMEs to present their potential for the industrial and biotechnological sector.

Lignin peroxidase functionalities and prospective applications

Ligninolytic extracellular enzymes, including lignin peroxidase, are topical owing to their high redox potential and prospective industrial applications. The prospective applications of lignin peroxidase span through sectors such as biorefinery, textile, energy, bioremediation, cosmetology, and dermatology industries. The litany of potentials attributed to lignin peroxidase is occasioned by its versatility in the degradation of xenobiotics and compounds with both phenolic and non-phenolic constituents. Over the years, ligninolytic enzymes have been studied however; research on lignin peroxidase seems to have been lagging when compared to other ligninolytic enzymes which are extracellular in nature including laccase and manganese peroxidase. This assertion becomes more pronounced when the application of lignin peroxidase is put into perspective. Consequently, a succinct documentation of the contemporary functionalities of lignin peroxidase and, some prospective applications of futuristic relevance has been advanced in this review. Some articulated applications include delignification of feedstock for ethanol production, textile effluent treatment and dye decolourization, coal depolymerization, treatment of hyperpigmentation, and skin-lightening through melanin oxidation. Prospective application of lignin peroxidase in skin-lightening functions through novel mechanisms, hence, it holds high value for the cosmetics sector where it may serve as suitable alternative to hydroquinone; a potent skin-lightening agent whose safety has generated lots of controversy and concern.

Recent updates on different methods of pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstocks: a review

Lignocellulosic feedstock materials are the most abundant renewable bioresource material available on earth. It is primarily composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are strongly associated with each other. Pretreatment processes are mainly involved in effective separation of these complex interlinked fractions and increase the accessibility of each individual component, thereby becoming an essential step in a broad range of applications particularly for biomass valorization. However, a major hurdle is the removal of sturdy and rugged lignin component which is highly resistant to solubilization and is also a major inhibitor for hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. Moreover, other factors such as lignin content, crystalline, and rigid nature of cellulose, production of post-pretreatment inhibitory products and size of feed stock particle limit the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. This has led to extensive research in the development of various pretreatment processes. The major pretreatment methods include physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The selection of pretreatment process depends exclusively on the application. As compared to the conventional single pretreatment process, integrated processes combining two or more pretreatment techniques is beneficial in reducing the number of process operational steps besides minimizing the production of undesirable inhibitors. However, an extensive research is still required for the development of new and more efficient pretreatment processes for lignocellulosic feedstocks yielding promising results.

Analysis of ethanol fermentation mechanism of ethanol producing white-rot fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60 by RNA-seq

Background

The white-rot fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60 shows valuable properties such as high ethanol yield from several lignocellulosic materials, although white-rot fungi commonly degrade woody components to CO₂ and H₂O. In order to identify genes involved in ethanol production by Phlebia sp. MG-60, we compared genes differentially expressed by the ethanol producing fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60 and the model white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium under ethanol fermenting and non-fermenting conditions using next-generation sequencing technologies.

Results

mRNAs from mycelia of Phlebia sp. MG-60 and P. chrysosporium under fermenting and non-fermenting conditions were sequenced using the MiSeq system. To detect differentially expressed genes, expression levels were measured in fragments per kilobase of exon per million mapped reads (FPKM). Differentially expressed genes were annotated using BLAST searches, Gene Ontology classifications, and KEGG pathway analysis. Functional analyses of differentially expressed genes revealed that genes involved in glucose uptake, glycolysis, and ethanol synthesis were widely upregulated in Phlebia sp. MG-60 under fermenting conditions.

Conclusions

In this study, we provided novel transcriptomic information on Phlebia sp. MG-60, and these RNA-seq data were useful in targeting genes involved in ethanol production for future genetic engineering.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2977-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The effect of particle size and amount of inoculum on fungal treatment of wheat straw and wood chips

Background

The aim of this study was to optimize the fungal treatment of lignocellulosic biomass by stimulating the colonization. Wheat straw and wood chips were treated with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Lentinula edodes with various amounts of colonized millet grains (0.5, 1.5 or 3.0 % per g of wet weight of substrate) added to the substrates. Also, wheat straw and wood chips were chopped to either 0.5 or 2 cm. Effectiveness of the fungal treatment after 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 wk of incubation was determined by changes in chemical composition, in vitro gas production (IVGP) as a measure for rumen degradability, and ergosterol content as a measure of fungal biomass.

Results

Incomplete colonization was observed for C. subvermispora treated wheat straw and L. edodes treated wood chips. The different particle sizes and amounts of inoculum tested, had no significant effects on the chemical composition and the IVGP of C. subvermispora treated wood chips. Particle size did influence L. edodes treatment of wheat straw. The L. edodes treatment of 2 cm wheat straw resulted in a more selective delignification and a higher IVGP than the smaller particles. Addition of 1.5 % or 3 % L. edodes inoculum to wheat straw resulted in more selective delignification and a higher IVGP than addition of 0.5 % inoculum.

Conclusion

Particle size and amount of inoculum did not have an effect on C. subvermispora treatment of wood chips. At least 1.5 % L. edodes colonized millet grains should be added to 2 cm wheat straw to result in an increased IVGP and acid detergent lignin (ADL) degradation.

Comparison between ensilage and fungal pretreatment for storage of giant reed and subsequent methane production

Ensilage and fungal pretreatment of giant reed harvested from August through December were compared based on their effects on feedstock preservation, glucose yield, and subsequent methane production via anaerobic digestion (AD). Compared to fungal pretreatment, ensilage obtained lower total solids (<1.2%) and cellulose (<3.5%) losses, and comparable hemicellulose degradation, except for giant reed harvested in August. Ensilage increased glucose and methane yields by 7-15% and 4-14%, respectively, for giant reed harvested from August through December. Fungal pretreatment failed for giant reed harvested in August and October with reduced glucose yields, and was effective for that harvested in November and December, with about 20% increases in glucose yield. However, hydrocarbon losses during fungal pretreatment offset the increased glucose yield, resulting in decreased methane yields by AD. In summary, ensilage was found to be more suitable than fungal pretreatment for giant reed storage and its methane production via AD.

Fungal pretreatment of non-sterile miscanthus for enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis

Miscanthus was pretreated with the fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora under non-sterile conditions, using sterile miscanthus that had been previously colonized with the fungus as the inoculum. Inoculum ratios equal to or greater than 30% yielded a successful pretreatment, enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of miscanthus by 3- to 4-fold over that of raw miscanthus, which was comparable with the fungal pretreatment under sterile conditions. This enhanced digestibility was linearly correlated with lignin degradation. Although cellulose loss of up to 13% was observed for the successful non-sterile pretreatments, the final glucose yield was 3-4 times higher than that of raw miscanthus and comparable to that of the sterile pretreated miscanthus. A time course study showed that maximum glucose yield can be achieved with a pretreatment time of 21 days.

Biological pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass--An overview

Pretreatment is an important step involved in the production of bioethanol from lignocelluosic biomass. Though several pretreatment regimes are available, biological pretreatment seems to be promising being an eco-friendly process and there is no inhibitor generation during the process. In the current scenario there are few limitations in using this strategy for pilot scale process. The first and foremost one is the long incubation time for effective delignification. This can be minimized to an extent by using suitable microbial consortium. There is an urgent need for research and development activities and fine tuning of the process for the development of an economically viable process. This review presents an overview of various aspects of biological pretreatment, enzymes involved in the process, parameters affecting biological pretreatment as well as future perspectives.