Recent advances in commercial biorefineries for lignocellulosic ethanol production: Current status, challenges and future perspectives

Adaptive evolution and mechanism elucidation for ethanol tolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae used in starch based biorefinery

Ethanol tolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae is compulsory for ethanol production in starch based biorefinery, especially during high-gravity fermentation. In this study, adaptive evolution with increased initial ethanol concentrations as a driving force was harnessed for achieving ethanol tolerant S. cerevisiae. After evolution, an outstanding ethanol tolerant strain was screened, which contributed to significant improvements in glucose consumption and ethanol production in scenarios of 300 g/L initial glucose, high solid loadings (30 wt%, 33 wt%, 35 wt% and 40 wt%) of corn, and high solid loadings (30 wt% and 33 wt%) of cassava, compared with the original strain. Genome re-sequencing was applied for the evolved strain, and 504 sense mutations in 205 genes were detected, among which PAM1 gene was demonstrated related to the elevated ethanol tolerance. In sum, this study provided a practical approach for obtaining ethanol tolerant strain and the identified PAM1 gene enhanced our understanding on ethanol tolerant mechanism, as well as provided a target basis for rational metabolic engineering.

Bioethanol production from potatoes in India: A SWOT analysis

India is the third-largest energy consumer globally, heavily reliant on imported oil. Projections suggest India's energy consumption will double by 2050, posing challenges to energy security and leading to significant foreign currency outflows. The extensive use of fossil fuels increases carbon emissions, raising environmental and health concerns. In this context, bioethanol production from potatoes offers a promising solution. This paper presents a SWOT analysis of this potential. Strengths include potatoes' widespread availability, high starch content, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. However, weaknesses such as seasonal cultivation, water-intensive farming, and competition with food demand require strategic solutions. Opportunities for bioethanol production from potatoes are numerous, including rural development, reduced fossil fuel reliance, and supportive governmental policies promoting renewable energy. Yet, threats like market fluctuations, technological limitations, and environmental issues related to land use and water consumption challenge the feasibility of this venture. This SWOT analysis provides insights into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with bioethanol production from potatoes in India, highlighting the potential and challenges of this renewable energy pathway.

Advancing Lignocellulosic Biomass Fractionation through Molten Salt Hydrates: Catalyst-Enhanced Pretreatment for Sustainable Biorefineries

Developing a process that performs the lignocellulosic biomass fractionation under milder conditions simultaneously with the depolymerization and/or the upgrading of all fractions is fundamental for the economic viability of future lignin-first biorefineries. The molten salt hydrates (MSH) with homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts are a potential alternative to biomass pretreatment that promotes cellulose's dissolution and its conversion to different platform molecules while keeping the lignin reactivity. This review investigates the fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass using MSH to produce chemicals and fuels. First, the MSH properties and applications are discussed. In particular, the use of MSH in cellulose dissolution and hydrolysis for producing high-value chemicals and fuels is presented. Then, the biomass treatment with MSH is discussed. Different strategies for preventing sugar degradation, such as biphasic media, adsorbents, and precipitation, are contrasted. The potential for valorizing isolated lignin from the pretreatment with MSH is debated. Finally, challenges and limitations in utilizing MSH for biomass valorization are discussed, and future developments are presented.

Technology Readiness and Emerging Prospects of Coupled Catalytic Reactions for Sustainable Chemical Value Chains

Transitioning from both the direct and indirect use of fossil fuels to the renewable and sustainable resources of the near future demands a focal shift in catalysis research - from investigating catalytic reactions in isolation to developing coupled reactions for modern chemical value chains. In this Perspective, we discuss the status and emerging prospects of coupled catalytic reactions across various scales and provide key examples. Besides being a sustainable and essential alternative to current fossil-based processes, the coupling of catalytic reactions offers novel and scalable pathways to value-added chemicals. By emphasizing the specific requirements and challenges arising from coupled reactions, we aim to identify and underscore research needs that are critical to expedite their development and to fully unlock their potential for chemical and fuel production.

Adaptive evolution of Paecilomyces variotii enhanced the biodetoxification of high-titer inhibitors in pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock

High inhibitor concentrations in lignocellulose feedstock negatively affect the degradation rate of biodetoxification strains. This study designed two adaptive laboratory evolutions in solid substrate and liquid medium to boost the biodetoxification capacity of P. variotii to high titers of lignocellulose-derived inhibitors, resulting in two evolved strains AC70 and ZW70. The results showed that the evolutionary adaptation in liquid medium could better boost the acetic acid assimilation compared to that on solid substrate. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the evolved strains exhibited a significant upregulation of adh, acs, ach1, and ackA directly related to the initial steps of acetate and furan aldehydes metabolisms. ZW70 strain can effectively remove the high concentration inhibitors cocktail from the hydrolysates derived from pretreated wheat straw and furfural residues. The biodetoxified hydrolysates by ZW70 were successfully used for cellulose chiral L-lactic acid production with the titers of ∼110 g/L, which were over 20 % higher than that detoxified by parental strain.

Upgraded cellulose and xylan digestions for synergistic enhancements of biomass enzymatic saccharification and bioethanol conversion using engineered Trichoderma reesei strains overproducing mushroom LeGH7 enzyme

Crop straws provide enormous lignocellulose resources transformable for sustainable biofuels and valuable bioproducts. However, lignocellulose recalcitrance basically restricts essential biomass enzymatic saccharification at large scale. In this study, the mushroom-derived cellobiohydrolase (LeGH7) was introduced into Trichoderma reesei (Rut-C30) to generate two desirable strains, namely GH7-5 and GH7-6. Compared to the Rut-C30 strain, both engineered strains exhibited significantly enhanced enzymatic activities, with β-glucosidases, endocellulases, cellobiohydrolases, and xylanase activities increasing by 113 %, 140 %, 241 %, and 196 %, respectively. By performing steam explosion and mild alkali pretreatments with mature straws of five bioenergy crops, diverse lignocellulose substrates were effectively digested by the crude enzymes secreted from the engineered strains, leading to the high-yield hexoses released for bioethanol production. Notably, the LeGH7 enzyme purified from engineered strain enabled to act as multiple cellulases and xylanase at higher activities, interpreting how synergistic enhancement of enzymatic saccharification was achieved for distinct lignocellulose substrates in major bioenergy crops. Therefore, this study has identified a novel enzyme that is active for simultaneous hydrolyses of cellulose and xylan, providing an applicable strategy for high biomass enzymatic saccharification and bioethanol conversion in bioenergy crops.

Advanced temperature control in ethanol fermentation using a PSO-PID controller with split-range control strategy

Global energy demand is experiencing a notable surge due to growing energy security. Renewable energy sources, like ethanol, are becoming more viable. In the present study, the application of a PSO-PID (Particle Swarm Optimization - Proportional Integral Derivative) controller with a split-range control strategy was suggested for the regulation of temperature within the fermentation system. To optimize performance, a POS-PID controller with a split-range arrangement utilizing two control valves for hot and cold utilities was constructed. The study began by examining the open-loop dynamic response of the system to inlet temperature and concentration disturbances during ethanol production fermentation. Subsequently, a transfer function model was developed through linearization at the steady-state operating point. The split-range controller structure, implemented by optimizing the PSO-PID controller parameters using PSO, effectively demonstrated temperature control in simulations of a nonlinear model. In this investigation, the ethanol fermentation system was modeled as a CSTR using a modified Monod equation for microbial growth kinetics. Various dynamic behavioral disturbances were explored and verified in the model with plant data in this study. The simulation model results were validated through plant data. The proposed method showed superior closed-loop performance with respect to errors, with the actuators proving to be effective than other reported methods for temperature control.

Development of a Robust Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain for Efficient Co-Fermentation of Mixed Sugars and Enhanced Inhibitor Tolerance through Protoplast Fusion

The economical and efficient commercial production of second-generation bioethanol requires fermentation microorganisms capable of entirely and rapidly utilizing all sugars in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. In this study, we developed a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, BLH510, through protoplast fusion and metabolic engineering to enhance its ability to co-ferment glucose, xylose, cellobiose, and xylooligosaccharides while tolerating various inhibitors commonly found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. The parental strains, LF1 and BLN26, were selected for their superior glucose/xylose co-fermentation capabilities and inhibitor tolerance, respectively. The fusion strain BLH510 demonstrated efficient utilization of mixed sugars and high ethanol yield under oxygen-limited conditions. Under low inoculum conditions, strain BLH510 could completely consume all four kinds of sugars in the medium within 84 h. The fermentation produced 33.96 g/L ethanol, achieving 84.3% of the theoretical ethanol yield. Despite the challenging presence of mixed inhibitors, BLH510 successfully metabolized all four sugars above after 120 h of fermentation, producing approximately 30 g/L ethanol and reaching 83% of the theoretical yield. Also, strain BLH510 exhibited increased intracellular trehalose content, particularly under conditions with mixed inhibitors, where the intracellular trehalose reached 239.3 mg/g yeast biomass. This elevated trehalose content contributes to the enhanced stress tolerance of BLH510. The study also optimized conditions for protoplast preparation and fusion, balancing high preparation efficiency and satisfactory regeneration efficiency. The results indicate that BLH510 is a promising candidate for industrial second-generation bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass, offering improved performance under challenging fermentation conditions. Our work demonstrates the potential of combining protoplast fusion and metabolic engineering to develop superior S. cerevisiae strains for lignocellulosic bioethanol production. This approach can also be extended to develop robust microbial platforms for producing a wide array of lignocellulosic biomass-based biochemicals.

Enhancing cellulose hydrolysis via cellulase immobilization on zeolitic imidazolate frameworks using physical adsorption

This study investigates the immobilization of cellulase on zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) by physical adsorption, specifically the ZIF-8-NH2 and Fe3O4@ZIF-8-NH2, to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. The immobilization process was thoroughly analyzed, including optimization of conditions and characterization of ZIF carriers and immobilized enzymes. The impacts on the catalytic activity of cellulase under various temperatures, pH levels, and storage conditions were examined. Additionally, the reusability of the immobilized enzyme was assessed. Results showed the cellulase immobilized on Fe3O4@ZIF-8-NH2 exhibited a high loading capacity of 339.64 mg/g, surpassing previous studies. Its relative enzymatic activity was found to be 71.39%. Additionally, this immobilized enzyme system demonstrates robust reusability, retaining 68.42% of its initial activity even after 10 cycles. These findings underscore the potential of Fe3O4@ZIF-8-NH2 as a highly efficient platform for cellulase immobilization, with promising implications for lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Highly Efficient Production of Cellulosic Ethanol from Poplar Using an Optimal C6/C5 Co-Fermentation Strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cellulosic ethanol is the key technology to alleviate the pressure of energy supply and climate change. However, the ethanol production process, which is close to industrial production and has a high saccharification rate and ethanol yield, still needs to be developed. This study demonstrates the effective conversion of poplar wood waste into fuel-grade ethanol. By employing a two-step pretreatment using sodium chlorite (SC)-dilute sulfuric acid (DSA), the raw material achieved a sugar conversion rate exceeding 85% of the theoretical value. Under optimized conditions, brewing yeast co-utilizing C6/C5 enabled a yield of 35 g/L ethanol from 10% solid loading delignified poplar hydrolysate. We increased the solid loading to enhance the final ethanol concentration and optimized both the hydrolysis and fermentation stages. With 20% solid loading delignified poplar hydrolysate, the final ethanol concentration reached 60 g/L, a 71.4% increase from the 10% solid loading. Our work incorporates the pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation stages to establish a simple, crude poplar waste fuel ethanol process, expanding the range of feedstocks for second-generation fuel ethanol production.

Anaerobic co-digestion of microalgal biomass, sugarcane vinasse, and residual glycerol from biodiesel using simplex-centroid mixture design: methane potential, synergic effect, and microbial diversity

Microalgal biomass (MB) is a promising feedstock for bioenergy production. Nonetheless, the cell recalcitrance and the low C/N ratio limit the methane yield during anaerobic digestion. As an alternative to overcome these challenges, MB co-digestion with different feedstocks has been proposed. Thus, this study evaluated the anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of MB cultivated in wastewater with sugarcane vinasse (VIN) and residual glycerol from biodiesel production (GLY). Batch tests were conducted using augmented simplex-centroid mixture design to investigate the impact of AcoD on methane production (SMP), synergistic effects, and the influence on microbial community. When compared to MB digestion, 150 NmL CH4.g-1VS, binary and ternary AcoD achieved SMP increases from 120 to 337%. The combination of 16.7:16.7:66.7 (MB:VIN:GLY) showed the highest SMP for a ternary mixture (631 NmL CH4.g-1VS). Optimal synergies ranged from 1.3 to 1.4 and were primarily found for the MB:GLY AcoD. Acetoclastic Methanosaeta genus was predominant, regardless the combination between substrates. Despite the largest SMP obtained from the MB:GLY AcoD, other ternary mixtures were also highly synergetic and therefore had strong potential as a strategic renewable energy source.

The lignocellulosic biorefinery concept is sound: a commentary on Zhao et al

In the opinion paper by Zhao et al. 'Making the biochemical conversion of lignocellulose more robust', the authors claim that '…lignocellulose biorefinery is conceptually wrong'. In response, we argue that this claim itself has already been proved wrong by several companies.

A critical assessment on scalable technologies using high solids loadings in lignocellulose biorefinery: challenges and solutions

The pretreatment and the enzymatic saccharification are the key steps in the extraction of fermentable sugars for further valorization of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) to biofuels and value-added products via biochemical and/or chemical conversion routes. Due to low density and high-water absorption capacity of LCB, the large volume of water is required for its processing. Integration of pretreatment, saccharification, and co-fermentation has succeeded and well-reported in the literature. However, there are only few reports on extraction of fermentable sugars from LCB with high biomass loading (>10% Total solids-TS) feasible to industrial reality. Furthermore, the development of enzymatic cocktails can overcome technology hurdles with high biomass loading. Hence, a better understanding of constraints involved in the development of technology with high biomass loading can result in an economical and efficient yield of fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels and bio-chemicals with viable titer, rate, and yield (TRY) at industrial scale. The present review aims to provide a critical assessment on the production of fermentable sugars from lignocelluloses with high solid biomass loading. The impact of inhibitors produced during both pretreatment and saccharification has been elucidated. Moreover, the limitations imposed by high solid loading on efficient mass transfer during saccharification process have been elaborated.

Enhancing xylose-fermentation capacity of engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae by multistep evolutionary engineering in inhibitor-rich lignocellulose hydrolysate

Major progress in developing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that utilize the pentose sugar xylose has been achieved. However, the high inhibitor content of lignocellulose hydrolysates still hinders efficient xylose fermentation, which remains a major obstacle for commercially viable second-generation bioethanol production. Further improvement of xylose utilization in inhibitor-rich lignocellulose hydrolysates remains highly challenging. In this work, we have developed a robust industrial S. cerevisiae strain able to efficiently ferment xylose in concentrated undetoxified lignocellulose hydrolysates. This was accomplished with novel multistep evolutionary engineering. First, a tetraploid strain was generated and evolved in xylose-enriched pretreated spruce biomass. The best evolved strain was sporulated to obtain a genetically diverse diploid population. The diploid strains were then screened in industrially relevant conditions. The best performing strain, MDS130, showed superior fermentation performance in three different lignocellulose hydrolysates. In concentrated corncob hydrolysate, with initial cell density of 1 g DW/l, at 35°C, MDS130 completely coconsumed glucose and xylose, producing ± 7% v/v ethanol with a yield of 91% of the maximum theoretical value and an overall productivity of 1.22 g/l/h. MDS130 has been developed from previous industrial yeast strains without applying external mutagenesis, minimizing the risk of negative side-effects on other commercially important properties and maximizing its potential for industrial application.

Engineering of Ogataea polymorpha strains with ability for high-temperature alcoholic fermentation of cellobiose

Successful conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels requires organisms capable of efficiently utilizing xylose as well as cellodextrins and glucose. Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha is the natural xylose-metabolizing organism and is one of the most thermotolerant yeasts known, with a maximum growth temperature above 50°C. Cellobiose-fermenting strains, derivatives of an improved ethanol producer from xylose O. polymorpha BEP/cat8∆, were constructed in this work by the introduction of heterologous genes encoding cellodextrin transporters (CDTs) and intracellular enzymes (β-glucosidase or cellobiose phosphorylase) that hydrolyze cellobiose. For this purpose, the genes gh1-1 of β-glucosidase, CDT-1m and CDT-2m of cellodextrin transporters from Neurospora crassa and the CBP gene coding for cellobiose phosphorylase from Saccharophagus degradans, were successfully expressed in O. polymorpha. Through metabolic engineering and mutagenesis, strains BEP/cat8∆/gh1-1/CDT-1m and BEP/cat8∆/CBP-1/CDT-2mAM were developed, showing improved parameters for high-temperature alcoholic fermentation of cellobiose. The study highlights the need for further optimization to enhance ethanol yields and elucidate cellobiose metabolism intricacies in O. polymorpha yeast. This is the first report of the successful development of stable methylotrophic thermotolerant strains of O. polymorpha capable of coutilizing cellobiose, glucose, and xylose under high-temperature alcoholic fermentation conditions at 45°C.

Bioethanol lignin-rich residue from olive stones for electrospun nanostructures development and castor oil structuring

This work describes the chemical and structural characterization of a lignin-rich residue from the bioethanol production of olive stones and its use for nanostructures development by electrospinning and castor oil structuring. The olive stones were treated by sequential acid/steam explosion pretreatment, further pre-saccharification using a hydrolytic enzyme, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PSSF). The chemical composition of olive stone lignin-rich residue (OSL) was evaluated by standard analytical methods, showing a high lignin content (81.3 %). Moreover, the structural properties were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and size exclusion chromatography. OSL showed a predominance of β-β' resinol, followed by β-O-4' alkyl aryl ethers and β-5' phenylcoumaran substructures, high molecular weight, and low S/G ratio. Subsequently, electrospun nanostructures were obtained from solutions containing 20 wt% OSL and cellulose triacetate with variable weight ratios in N, N-Dimethylformamide/Acetone blends and characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Their morphologies were highly dependent on the rheological properties of polymeric solutions. Gel-like dispersions can be obtained by dispersing the electrospun OSL/CT bead nanofibers and uniform nanofiber mats in castor oil. The rheological properties were influenced by the membrane concentration and the OSL:CT weight ratio, as well as the morphology of the electrospun nanostructures.

A review on recent environmental electrochemistry approaches for the consolidation of a circular economy model

Availability of raw materials in the chemical industry is related to the selection of the chemical processes in which they are used as well as to the efficiency, cost, and eventual evolution to more competitive dynamics of transformation technologies. In general terms however, any chemically transforming technology starts with the extraction, purification, design, manufacture, use, and disposal of materials. It is important to create a new paradigm towards green chemistry, sustainability, and circular economy in the chemical sciences that help to better employ, reuse, and recycle the materials used in every aspect of modern life. Electrochemistry is a growing field of knowledge that can help with these issues to reduce solid waste and the impact of chemical processes on the environment. Several electrochemical studies in the last decades have benefited the recovery of important chemical compounds and elements through electrodeposition, electrowinning, electrocoagulation, electrodialysis, and other processes. The use of living organisms and microorganisms using an electrochemical perspective (known as bioelectrochemistry), is also calling attention to "mining", through plants and microorganisms, essential chemical elements. New process design or the optimization of the current technologies is a major necessity to enhance production and minimize the use of raw materials along with less generation of wastes and secondary by-products. In this context, this contribution aims to show an up-to-date scenario of both environmental electrochemical and bioelectrochemical processes for the extraction, use, recovery and recycling of materials in a circular economy model.

Engineered yeasts and lignocellulosic biomaterials: shaping a new dimension for biorefinery and global bioeconomy

The next milestone of synthetic biology research relies on the development of customized microbes for specific industrial purposes. Metabolic pathways of an organism, for example, depict its chemical repertoire and its genetic makeup. If genes controlling such pathways can be identified, scientists can decide to enhance or rewrite them for different purposes depending on the organism and the desired metabolites. The lignocellulosic biorefinery has achieved good progress over the past few years with potential impact on global bioeconomy. This principle aims to produce different bio-based products like biochemical(s) or biofuel(s) from plant biomass under microbial actions. Meanwhile, yeasts have proven very useful for different biotechnological applications. Hence, their potentials in genetic/metabolic engineering can be fully explored for lignocellulosic biorefineries. For instance, the secretion of enzymes above the natural limit (aided by genetic engineering) would speed-up the down-line processes in lignocellulosic biorefineries and the cost. Thus, the next milestone would greatly require the development of synthetic yeasts with much more efficient metabolic capacities to achieve basic requirements for particular biorefinery. This review gave comprehensive overview of lignocellulosic biomaterials and their importance in bioeconomy. Many researchers have demonstrated the engineering of several ligninolytic enzymes in heterologous yeast hosts. However, there are still many factors needing to be well understood like the secretion time, titter value, thermal stability, pH tolerance, and reactivity of the recombinant enzymes. Here, we give a detailed account of the potentials of engineered yeasts being discussed, as well as the constraints associated with their development and applications.

Installing xylose assimilation and cellodextrin phosphorolysis pathways in obese Yarrowia lipolytica facilitates cost-effective lipid production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates

BACKGROUND

Yarrowia lipolytica, one of the most charming chassis cells in synthetic biology, is unable to use xylose and cellodextrins.

RESULTS

Herein, we present work to tackle for the first time the engineering of Y. lipolytica to produce lipids from cellodextrins and xylose by employing rational and combinatorial strategies. This includes constructing a cellodextrin-phosphorolytic Y. lipolytica by overexpressing Neurospora crassa cellodextrin transporter, Clostridium thermocellum cellobiose/cellodextrin phosphorylase and Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphoglucomutase. The effect of glucose repression on xylose consumption was relieved by installing a xylose uptake facilitator combined with enhanced PPP pathway and increased cytoplasmic NADPH supply. Further enhancing lipid production and interrupting its consumption conferred the obese phenotype to the engineered yeast. The strain is able to co-ferment glucose, xylose and cellodextrins efficiently, achieving a similar μmax of 0.19 h-1, a qs of 0.34 g-s/g-DCW/h and a YX/S of 0.54 DCW-g/g-s on these substrates, and an accumulation of up to 40% of lipids on the sugar mixture and on wheat straw hydrolysate.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, engineering Y. lipolytica capable of assimilating xylose and cellodextrins is a vital step towards a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process of LC biomass, allowing improved substrate conversion rate and reduced production cost due to low demand of external glucosidase.

Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for second-generation ethanol production from xylo-oligosaccharides and acetate

Simultaneous intracellular depolymerization of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and acetate fermentation by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae offers significant potential for more cost-effective second-generation (2G) ethanol production. In the present work, the previously engineered S. cerevisiae strain, SR8A6S3, expressing enzymes for xylose assimilation along with an optimized route for acetate reduction, was used as the host for expressing two β-xylosidases, GH43-2 and GH43-7, and a xylodextrin transporter, CDT-2, from Neurospora crassa, yielding the engineered SR8A6S3-CDT-2-GH34-2/7 strain. Both β-xylosidases and the transporter were introduced by replacing two endogenous genes, GRE3 and SOR1, that encode aldose reductase and sorbitol (xylitol) dehydrogenase, respectively, and catalyse steps in xylitol production. The engineered strain, SR8A6S3-CDT-2-GH34-2/7 (sor1Δ gre3Δ), produced ethanol through simultaneous XOS, xylose, and acetate co-utilization. The mutant strain produced 60% more ethanol and 12% less xylitol than the control strain when a hemicellulosic hydrolysate was used as a mono- and oligosaccharide source. Similarly, the ethanol yield was 84% higher for the engineered strain using hydrolysed xylan, compared with the parental strain. Xylan, a common polysaccharide in lignocellulosic residues, enables recombinant strains to outcompete contaminants in fermentation tanks, as XOS transport and breakdown occur intracellularly. Furthermore, acetic acid is a ubiquitous toxic component in lignocellulosic hydrolysates, deriving from hemicellulose and lignin breakdown. Therefore, the consumption of XOS, xylose, and acetate expands the capabilities of S. cerevisiae for utilization of all of the carbohydrate in lignocellulose, potentially increasing the efficiency of 2G biofuel production.

Application of adaptive laboratory evolution for Yarrowia lipolytica: A comprehensive review

Adaptive laboratory evolution is an innovative approach utilized by researchers to enhance the characteristics of microorganisms in the field of biology. With the advancement of this technology, it is now being extended to non-model strains. Yarrowia lipolytica, an oleaginous yeast with significant industrial potential, stands out among the non-conventional fungi. However, the activity of Yarrowia lipolytica is frequently affected by specific substances and environmental factors, necessitating the development of techniques to address these challenges. This manuscript provides an overview of adaptive laboratory evolution experiments conducted on Yarrowia lipolytica, and categorizes the contents into two aspects including improving lignocellulose utilization and enhancing the production in Yarrowia lipolytica. Additionally, we selected several representative examples to illustrate how adaptive laboratory evolution can be combined with other techniques to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying strain evolution. Lastly, we anticipate a promising future for adaptive laboratory evolution technology and Yarrowia lipolytica in tandem.

Exploring the cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic activities of manganese peroxidase for lignocellulose deconstruction

BACKGROUND

A cost-effective pretreatment and saccharification process is a necessary prerequisite for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in biofuel and biomaterials production. Utilizing a multifunctional enzyme with both pretreatment and saccharification functions in a single step for simultaneous biological pretreatment and saccharification process (SPS) will be a green method of low cost and high efficiency. Manganese peroxidase (MnP, EC 1.11.1.13), a well-known lignin-degrading peroxidase, is generally preferred for the biological pretreatment of biomass. However, exploring the role and performance of MnP in LCB conversion will promote the application of MnP for lignocellulose-based biorefineries.

RESULTS

In this study, we explored the ability of an MnP from Moniliophthora roreri, MrMnP, in LCB degradation. With Mn2+ and H2O2, MrMnP decomposed 5.0 g/L carboxymethyl cellulose to 0.14 mM of reducing sugar with a conversion yield of 5.0 mg/g, including 40 μM cellobiose, 70 μM cellotriose, 20 μM cellotetraose, and 10 μM cellohexaose, and degraded 1.0 g/L mannohexaose to 0.33 μM mannose, 4.08 μM mannotriose, and 4.35 μM mannopentaose. Meanwhile, MrMnP decomposed 5.0 g/L lichenan to 0.85 mM of reducing sugar with a conversion yield of 30.6 mg/g, including 10 μM cellotriose, 20 μM cellotetraose, and 80 μM cellohexose independently of Mn2+ and H2O2. Moreover, the versatility of MrMnP in LCB deconstruction was further verified by decomposing locust bean gum and wheat bran into reducing sugars with a conversion yield of 54.4 mg/g and 29.5 mg/g, respectively, including oligosaccharides such as di- and tri-saccharides. The catalytic mechanism underlying MrMnP degraded lignocellulose was proposed as that with H2O2, MrMnP oxidizes Mn2+ to Mn3+. Subsequently, it forms a complex with malonate, facilitating the degradation of CMC and mannohexaose into reducing sugars. Without H2O2, MrMnP directly oxidizes malonate to hydroperoxyl acetic acid radical to form compound I, which then attacks the glucosidic bond of lichenan.

CONCLUSION

This study identified a new function of MrMnP in the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose, suggesting that MrMnP exhibits its versatility in the pretreatment and saccharification of LCB. The results will lead to an in-depth understanding of biocatalytic saccharification and contribute to forming new enzymatic systems for using lignocellulose resources to produce sustainable and economically viable products and the long-term development of biorefinery, thereby increasing the productivity of LCB as a green resource.

A comprehensive analysis of bioethanol and ethyl lactate joint production in second-generation biorefinery: Simulation, techno-economic, and profitability assessments

Second-generation biorefineries (2GBR) represent an innovative application of bioresources technologies to produce bioenergy and valuable products. This paper aims to introduce and analyze the joint production of bioethanol and ethyl lactate in a 2GBR. Techno-economic and profitability perspectives are considered in the analysis which is conducted via simulation considering corn stover as raw material. A key aspect in the analysis is a joint production parameter named α, whose values can dictate either the sole production of bioethanol (α = 0), joint production (0 < α < 1), or the unique production of ethyl lactate (α = 1). In other words, the proposed joint production scheme provides versatility in production. Simulations show that the lowest Total Capital Investment, Unit Production Cost, and Operating Cost values were associated with low values of α. Furthermore, when α ≥ 0.4, the 2GBR under study can achieve internal rates of return above 30%, which implies that the project offers a potentially high profitability.

A novel investigation using thermal modeling and optimization of waste pyrolysis reactor using finite element analysis and response surface methodology

The influence of humans on the environment is growing drastically and is pervasive. If this trend continues for a longer time, it can cost humankind, social and economic challenges. Keeping this situation in mind, renewable energy has paved the way as our saviour. This shift will not only help in reducing pollution but will also provide immense opportunities for the youth to work. This work discusses about various waste management strategies and discusses the pyrolysis process in details. Simulations were done keeping pyrolysis as the base process and by varying parameters like feeds and reactor materials. Different feeds were chosen like Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), wheat straw, pinewood, and a mixture of Polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene (PE), and Polypropylene (PP). Different reactor materials were considered namely, stainless steel AISI 202, AISI 302, AISI 304, and AISI 405. AISI stands for American Iron and Steel Institute. AISI is used to signify some standard grades of alloy steel bars. Thermal stress and thermal strain values and temperature contours were obtained using simulation software called Fusion 360. These values were plotted against temperature using graphing software called Origin. It was observed that these values increased with increasing temperature. LDPE got the lowest values for stress and stainless steel AISI 304 came out to be the most feasible material for pyrolysis reactor having the ability to withstand high thermal stresses. RSM was effectively used to generate a robust prognostic model with high efficiency, R2 (0.9924-0.9931), and low RMSE (0.236 to 0.347). Optimization based on desirability identified the operating parameters as 354 °C temperature and LDPE feedstock. The best thermal stress and strain responses at these ideal parameters were 1719.67 MPa and 0.0095, respectively.

Combination of surfactants and enzyme cocktails for enhancing woody biomass saccharification and bioethanol production from lab-scale to pilot-scale

Converting woody biomass to bioethanol might be more affordable, environmentally friendly, and efficient for making biofuel commercially feasible, but it would still need a significant optimization process and expand pilot-scale research. A combination of commercial low enzymes loading at 10 FPU/g glucan and compound additives utilizing Tween 80, PEG8000 and sophorolipid applied from lab-scale to pilot-scale have been studied in this work at economically viable dosages for enhancing bioethanol production. In lab-scale saccharification and fermentation, pretreated poplar at a high solid loading of 20% yielded the highest ethanol titers of 30.96 g/L and theoretical ethanol yield of 92.79%. Additionally, pilot-scale operation was used to investigate the bioethanol amplification, a final volume of 33 m³ which yielded the greatest ethanol amount of 599.6 kg from poplar wood while gaining on-site value-added production of hemicellulosic and cellobiose liquor 1122 kg and lignin residues 2292 kg.

Engineering Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities for Lignocellulosic Biorefineries: Leveraging Biobased Polymer Production

Alternative polymer feedstocks are highly desirable to address environmental, social, and security concerns associated with petrochemical-based materials. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) has emerged as one critical feedstock in this regard because it is an abundant and ubiquitous renewable resource. LCB can be deconstructed to generate valuable fuels, chemicals, and small molecules/oligomers that are amenable to modification and polymerization. However, the diversity of LCB complicates the evaluation of biorefinery concepts in areas including process scale-up, production outputs, plant economics, and life-cycle management. We discuss aspects of current LCB biorefinery research with a focus on the major process stages, including feedstock selection, fractionation/deconstruction, and characterization, along with product purification, functionalization, and polymerization to manufacture valuable macromolecular materials. We highlight opportunities to valorize underutilized and complex feedstocks, leverage advanced characterization techniques to predict and manage biorefinery outputs, and increase the fraction of biomass converted into valuable products.

Microbial cellulase production and its potential application for textile industries

Purpose

The textile industry’s previous chemical use resulted in thousands of practical particulate emissions, such as machine component damage and drainage system blockage, both of which have practical implications. Enzyme-based textile processing is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, non-hazardous, and water-saving. The purpose of this review is to give evidence on the potential activity of microbial cellulase in the textile industry, which is mostly confined to the realm of research.

Methods

This review was progressive by considering peer-reviewed papers linked to microbial cellulase production, and its prospective application for textile industries was appraised and produced to develop this assessment. Articles were divided into two categories based on the results of trustworthy educational journals: methods used to produce the diversity of microorganisms through fermentation processes and such approaches used to produce the diversity of microbes through microbial fermentation. Submerged fermentation (SMF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) techniques are currently being used to meet industrial demand for microbial cellulase production in the bio textile industry.

Results

Microbial cellulase is vital for increasing day to day due to its no side effect on the environment and human health becoming increasingly important. In conventional textile processing, the gray cloth was subjected to a series of chemical treatments that involved breaking the dye molecule’s amino group with Cl − , which started and accelerated dye(-resistant) bond cracking. A cellulase enzyme is primarily derived from a variety of microbial species found in various ecological settings as a biotextile/bio-based product technology for future needs in industrial applications.

Conclusion

Cellulase has been produced for its advantages in cellulose-based textiles, as well as for quality enhancement and fabric maintenance over traditional approaches. Cellulase’s role in the industry was microbial fermentation processes in textile processing which was chosen as an appropriate and environmentally sound solution for a long and healthy lifestyle.

High bioethanol titer and yield from phosphoric acid plus hydrogen peroxide pretreated paper mulberry wood through optimization of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

The optimization of key simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) parameters for bioethanol production from phosphoric acid plus hydrogen peroxide pretreated paper mulberry wood was carried out under two isothermal scenarios; the yeast optimum and trade-off temperatures of 35 and 38 °C, respectively. The optimal conditions established for SSF at 35 °C (solid loading: 16%; enzyme dosage: 9.8 mg protein/g glucan; and yeast concentration: 6.5 g/L) achieved high ethanol titer and yield of 77.34 g/L and 84.60% (0.432 g/g), respectively. These corresponded to 1.2 and 1.3-folds increases, compared to the results of the optimal SSF at a relatively higher temperature of 38 °C. The information from this study would prove beneficial in reducing process energy demands to some extent, while also helping to achieve high levels of both ethanol concentration and yield that are desired in cellulosic ethanol production.

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.

Evolving Robust and Interpretable Enzymes for the Bioethanol Industry

Obtaining a robust and applicable enzyme for bioethanol production is a dream for biorefinery engineers. Herein, we describe a general method to evolve an all-round and interpretable enzyme that can be directly employed in the bioethanol industry. By integrating the transferable protein evolution strategy InSiReP 2.0 (In Silico guided Recombination Process), enzymatic characterization for actual production, and computational molecular understanding, the model cellulase PvCel5A (endoglucanase II Cel5A from Penicillium verruculosum) was successfully evolved to overcome the remaining challenges of low ethanol and temperature tolerance, which primarily limited biomass transformation and bioethanol yield. Remarkably, application of the PvCel5A variants in both first- and second-generation bioethanol production processes (i. Conventional corn ethanol fermentation combined with the in situ pretreatment process; ii. cellulosic ethanol fermentation process) resulted in a 5.7-10.1 % increase in the ethanol yield, which was unlikely to be achieved by other optimization techniques.

Design of biorefineries towards carbon neutrality: A critical review

The increase in worldwide demand for energy is driven by the rapid increase in population and exponential economic development. This resulted in the fast depletion of fossil fuel supplies and unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. To valorize biomass into different bioproducts, one of the popular and carbon-neutral alternatives is biorefineries. This system is an appropriate technology in the circular economy model. Various research highlighted the role of biorefineries as a centerpiece in the carbon-neutral ecosystem of technologies of the circular economy model. To fully realize this, various improvements and challenges need to be addressed. This paper presents a critical and timely review of the challenges and future direction of biorefineries as an alternative carbon-neutral energy source.

Synthesis of temperature and pH responsive lignin-grafted sulfobetaine for efficiently recycling cellulase

Recycling cellulase can reduce the cost of lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysis. Here, a lignin-grafted sulfobetaine (LSB) was first synthesized by grafting sulfobetaine (SB) on enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL). LSB had a sensitive response of pH and temperature. LSB dissolved under the conditions of lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysis (pH 5.0, 50 °C). After hydrolysis, LSB co-precipitated with cellulase when lowering pH of the hydrolysate to 4.0 and cooling to 25 °C. When 3.0 g/L LSB-100 was added to the hydrolysis system of corncob residue (CCR), 70 % of amount of cellulase was saved. LSB had a remarkable response and stronger cellulase recovery capacity. This was attributed that carboxylate radical in LSB was protonated, and positive and negative ions of SB associated to form salt at 25 °C. This work provides a new idea for reducing the cost for preparing fermentable sugars from lignocellulose, and increasing the added value of EHL.

Efficient Azo Dye Biodecolorization System Using Lignin-Co-Cultured White-Rot Fungus

The extensive use of azo dyes by the global textile industry induces significant environmental and human health hazards, which makes efficient remediation crucial but also challenging. Improving dye removal efficiency will benefit the development of bioremediation techniques for textile effluents. In this study, an efficient system for azo dye (Direct Red 5B, DR5B) biodecolorization is reported, which uses the white-rot fungus Ganoderma lucidum EN2 and alkali lignin. This study suggests that the decolorization of DR5B could be effectively enhanced (from 40.34% to 95.16%) within 48 h in the presence of alkali lignin. The dye adsorption test further confirmed that the alkali-lignin-enhanced decolorization of DR5B was essentially due to biodegradation rather than physical adsorption, evaluating the role of alkali lignin in the dye biodegradation system. Moreover, the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis and DR5B decolorization experiments also indicated that alkali lignin carried an excellent potential for promoting dye decolorization and displayed a significant role in improving the activity of lignin-modifying enzymes. This was mainly because of the laccase-mediator system, which was established by the induced laccase activity and lignin-derived small aromatic compounds.

Multi-omics network model reveals key genes associated with p-coumaric acid stress response in an industrial yeast strain

The production of ethanol from lignocellulosic sources presents increasingly difficult issues for the global biofuel scenario, leading to increased production costs of current second-generation (2G) ethanol when compared to first-generation (1G) plants. Among the setbacks encountered in industrial processes, the presence of chemical inhibitors from pre-treatment processes severely hinders the potential of yeasts in producing ethanol at peak efficiency. However, some industrial yeast strains have, either naturally or artificially, higher tolerance levels to these compounds. Such is the case of S. cerevisiae SA-1, a Brazilian fuel ethanol industrial strain that has shown high resistance to inhibitors produced by the pre-treatment of cellulosic complexes. Our study focuses on the characterization of the transcriptomic and physiological impact of an inhibitor of this type, p-coumaric acid (pCA), on this strain under chemostat cultivation via RNAseq and quantitative physiological data. It was found that strain SA-1 tend to increase ethanol yield and production rate while decreasing biomass yield when exposed to pCA, in contrast to pCA-susceptible strains, which tend to decrease their ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency when exposed to this substance. This suggests increased metabolic activity linked to mitochondrial and peroxisomal processes. The transcriptomic analysis also revealed a plethora of differentially expressed genes located in co-expressed clusters that are associated with changes in biological pathways linked to biosynthetic and energetical processes. Furthermore, it was also identified 20 genes that act as interaction hubs for these clusters, while also having association with altered pathways and changes in metabolic outputs, potentially leading to the discovery of novel targets for metabolic engineering toward a more robust industrial yeast strain.

Renewable Power and Heat for the Decarbonisation of Energy-Intensive Industries

The present review provides a catalogue of relevant renewable energy (RE) technologies currently available (regarding the 2030 scope) and to be available in the transition towards 2050 for the decarbonisation of Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs). RE solutions have been classified into technologies based on the use of renewable electricity and those used to produce heat for multiple industrial processes. Electrification will be key thanks to the gradual decrease in renewable power prices and the conversion of natural-gas-dependent processes. Industrial processes that are not eligible for electrification will still need a form of renewable heat. Among them, the following have been identified: concentrating solar power, heat pumps, and geothermal energy. These can supply a broad range of needed temperatures. Biomass will be a key element not only in the decarbonisation of conventional combustion systems but also as a biofuel feedstock. Biomethane and green hydrogen are considered essential. Biomethane can allow a straightforward transition from fossil-based natural gas to renewable gas. Green hydrogen production technologies will be required to increase their maturity and availability in Europe (EU). EIIs’ decarbonisation will occur through the progressive use of an energy mix that allows EU industrial sectors to remain competitive on a global scale. Each industrial sector will require specific renewable energy solutions, especially the top greenhouse gas-emitting industries. This analysis has also been conceived as a starting point for discussions with potential decision makers to facilitate a more rapid transition of EIIs to full decarbonisation.

Integrating 1G with 2G Bioethanol Production by Using Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) as the Feedstock for Lignocellulolytic Enzyme Production

First-generation (1G) bioethanol is one of the most used liquid biofuels in the transport industry. It is generated by using sugar- or starch-based feedstocks, while second-generation (2G) bioethanol is generated by using lignocellulosic feedstocks. Distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a byproduct of first-generation bioethanol production with a current annual production of 22.6 million tons in the USA. DDGS is rich in fiber and valuable nutrients contents, which can be used to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes such as cellulases and hemicellulases for 2G bioethanol production. However, DDGS needs a pretreatment method such as dilute acid, ammonia soaking, or steam hydrolysis to release monosaccharides and short-length oligosaccharides as fermentable sugars for use in microbial media. These fermentable sugars can then induce microbial growth and enzyme production compared to only glucose or xylose in the media. In addition, selection of one or more suitable microbial strains, which work best with the DDGS for enzyme production, is also needed. Media optimization and fermentation process optimization strategies can then be applied to find the optimum conditions for the production of cellulases and hemicellulases needed for 2G bioethanol production. Therefore, in this review, a summary of all such techniques is compiled with a special focus on recent findings obtained in previous pieces of research conducted by the authors and by others in the literature. Furthermore, a comparison of such techniques applied to other feedstocks and process improvement strategies is also provided. Overall, dilute acid pretreatment is proven to be better than other pretreatment methods, and fermentation optimization strategies can enhance enzyme production by considerable folds with a suitable feedstock such as DDGS. Future studies can be further enhanced by the technoeconomic viability of DDGS as the on-site enzyme feedstock for the manufacture of second-generation bioethanol (2G) in first-generation (1G) ethanol plants, thus bridging the two processes for the efficient production of bioethanol using corn or other starch-based lignocellulosic plants.

Recent updates in biohydrogen production strategies and life-cycle assessment for sustainable future

Biohydrogen (bio-H₂) is regarded as a clean, non-toxic, energy carrier and has enormous potential for transforming fossil fuel-based economy. The development of a continuous high-rate H₂ production with low-cost economics following an environmentally friendly approach should be admired for technology demonstration. Thus, the current review discusses the biotechnological and thermochemical pathways for H₂ production. Thermochemical conversion involves pyrolysis and gasification routes, while biotechnological involves light-dependent processes (e.g., direct and indirect photolysis, photo/ dark fermentation strategies). Moreover, environmentally friendly technologies can be created while utilizing renewable energy sources including lignocellulosic, wastewater, sludge, microalgae, and others, which are still being developed. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) evaluates and integrates the economic, environmental, and social performance of H₂ production from biomass, microalgae, and biochar. Moreover, system boundaries evaluation, i.e., global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and sensitivity analysis could lead in development of sustainable bioenergy transition with high economic and environmental benefits.

Development of an economically competitive Trichoderma-based platform for enzyme production: Bioprocess optimization, pilot plant scale-up, techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment

Despite decades of research and industrial applications of Trichoderma reesei, the development of industrially relevant strains for enzyme production including a low-cost and scalable bioprocess remains elusive. Herein, bioprocess optimization, pilot plant scale-up, techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment for enzyme production by an engineered T. reesei strain are reported. The developed bioprocess increased in ∼ 2-fold protein productivity (0.39 g.L-1.h-1) and 1.6-fold FPase activity (196 FPU.L-1.h-1), reducing the fermentation in 4 days. Cultivation in a 65-L pilot plant bioreactor resulted in 54 g.L-1 protein in 7 days, highlighting the robustness and scalability of this bioprocess. Techno-economic analysis indicates an enzyme cost of ∼ 3.2 USD.kg-1, which is below to the target proposed (4.24 USD.kg-1) in the NREL/TP-5100-47764 report, while life-cycle assessment shows a carbon footprint reduction of approximately 50% compared to a typical commercial enzyme. This study provides the fundamental knowledge for the design of economically competitive Trichoderma technologies for industrial use.

Sustainability and carbon neutralization trends in microalgae bioenergy production from wastewater treatment: A review

Reducing CO2 emissions using biomass is gaining popularity as an environmentally friendly strategy. Due to high growth rates, low production costs, and ability to withstand harsh conditions, microalgae have become quite popular. Microalgae may also undertake photosynthesis, converting CO2 and solar energy into sugar before becoming biomass, making them an excellent source of renewable and promising biofuels. CO2 sequestration and biofixation was utilized to compare the synthesis of biodiesel as a third-generation biofuel from various types of wastewater was also used as a source for the algal cultivation. This review article focuses on recent developments, research discoveries in the field of microalgal CO2 capture modification and the optimization of conversion efficiency. This review is intended to serve as a helpful and reference for the use of wastewater treatment with microalgae to collect CO2. The overarching objective of this study is to assist wastewater treatment systems in achieving carbon neutrality.

Critical challenges and technological breakthroughs in food waste hydrolysis and detoxification for fuels and chemicals production

Organic waste has increased as the global population and economy have grown exponentially. Food waste (FW) is posing a severe environmental issue because of mismanaged disposal techniques, which frequently result in the squandering of carbohydrate-rich feedstocks. In an advanced valorization strategy, organic material in FW can be used as a viable carbon source for microbial digestion and hence for the generation of value-added compounds. In comparison to traditional feedstocks, a modest pretreatment of the FW stream utilizing chemical, biochemical, or thermochemical techniques can extract bulk of sugars for microbial digestion. Pretreatment produces a large number of toxins and inhibitors that affect bacterial fuel and chemical conversion processes. Thus, the current review scrutinizes the FW structure, pretreatment methods (e.g., physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological), and various strategies for detoxification before microbial fermentation into renewable chemical production. Technological and commercial challenges and future perspectives for FW integrated biorefineries have also been outlined.

Integrated biorefinery approaches for the industrialization of cellulosic ethanol fuel

Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant and sustainable raw material, but its conversion into ethanol fuel has not yet achieved large-scale industrialization and economic benefits. Integrated biorefineries have been widely identified as the key to achieving this goal. Here, four promising routes were summarized to assemble the new industrial plants for cellulose-based fuels and chemicals, including 1) integration of cellulase production systems into current cellulosic ethanol processes; 2) combination of processes and facilities between cellulosic ethanol and first-generation ethanol; 3) application of enzyme-free saccharification processes and computational approaches to increase the bioethanol yield and optimize the integration process; 4) production of multiple products to maximize the value derived from the lignocellulosic biomass. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives of this field are also discussed.

Strategies to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for biorefinery applications: A review

Global interest in lignocellulosic biorefineries has increased in the recent past due to technological advancements in sustainable and cost-effective production of numerous commodity and speciality chemicals and fuels from renewable lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). As a result, the market value of biorefinery products has also increased over the time, with an estimated worth of USD 867.7 billion by 2025. However, biorefinery operations, especially enzymatic hydrolysis, suffer from many challenges that limits the cost-effectiveness of conversion of LCB. Therefore, it is essential to understand and address these challenges in future biorefineries. The paper focuses on recent trends and challenges in enzymatic hydrolysis of LCB during lignocellulosic biorefinery operation for greener synthesis of energy, fuels, chemicals and other high-value products. Insights into the gaps in knowledge and technological challenges have also been addressed together with focus on future research needs and perspectives of enzymatic hydrolysis of LCB for biorefinery applications.

The cell wall and the response and tolerance to stresses of biotechnological relevance in yeasts

In industrial settings and processes, yeasts may face multiple adverse environmental conditions. These include exposure to non-optimal temperatures or pH, osmotic stress, and deleterious concentrations of diverse inhibitory compounds. These toxic chemicals may result from the desired accumulation of added-value bio-products, yeast metabolism, or be present or derive from the pre-treatment of feedstocks, as in lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates. Adaptation and tolerance to industrially relevant stress factors involve highly complex and coordinated molecular mechanisms occurring in the yeast cell with repercussions on the performance and economy of bioprocesses, or on the microbiological stability and conservation of foods, beverages, and other goods. To sense, survive, and adapt to different stresses, yeasts rely on a network of signaling pathways to modulate the global transcriptional response and elicit coordinated changes in the cell. These pathways cooperate and tightly regulate the composition, organization and biophysical properties of the cell wall. The intricacy of the underlying regulatory networks reflects the major role of the cell wall as the first line of defense against a wide range of environmental stresses. However, the involvement of cell wall in the adaptation and tolerance of yeasts to multiple stresses of biotechnological relevance has not received the deserved attention. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in fine-tuning cell wall physicochemical properties during the stress response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their implication in stress tolerance. The available information for non-conventional yeast species is also included. These non-Saccharomyces species have recently been on the focus of very active research to better explore or control their biotechnological potential envisaging the transition to a sustainable circular bioeconomy.

Sugarcane Bagasse-Based Ethanol Production and Utilization of Its Vinasse for Xylitol Production as an Approach in Integrated Biorefinery

Biorefinery of sugarcane bagasse into ethanol and xylitol was investigated in this study. Ethanol fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate was carried out by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After ethanol distillation, the vinasse containing xylose was used to produce xylitol through fermentation by Candida guilliermondii TISTR 5068. During the ethanol fermentation, it was not necessary to supplement a nitrogen source to the hydrolysate. Approximately 50 g/L of bioethanol was produced after 36 h of fermentation. The vinasse was successfully used to produce xylitol. Supplementing the vinasse with 1 g/L of yeast extract improved xylitol production 1.4-fold. Cultivating the yeast with 10% controlled dissolved oxygen resulted in the best xylitol production and yields of 10.2 ± 1.12 g/L and 0.74 ± 0.04 g/g after 60 h fermentation. Supplementing the vinasse with low fraction of molasses to improve xylitol production did not yield a positive result. The supplementation caused decreases of up to 34% in xylitol production rate, 24% in concentration, and 24% in yield.

Environmental and Economic Assessment of a Novel Solvolysis-Based Biorefinery Producing Lignin-Derived Marine Biofuel and Cellulosic Ethanol

Methanol is considered to be a viable option for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in shipping, the second-highest emitter after road freight. However, the use of fossil methanol is insufficient to meet climate change targets, while renewable methanol is yet unavailable on a commercial scale. This paper presents a novel biorefinery concept based on biomass solvolysis to produce crude lignin oil (CLO) from forest residues, a drop-in biofuel for methanol-propelled ships, and evaluates its environmental and economic profiles. In the base scenario, CLO can achieve emission saving of 84% GHG compared to fossil alternatives, and a minimum selling price (MSP) of $821 per ton of methanol equivalent (ME), i.e., within the range of the current bio-methanol production costs. The emission of GHGs of co-produced ethanol can be reduced by 67% compared to fossil analogues. The increase of renewable electricity share to 75% is capable of shrinking emissions by 1/5 vs. the base case, while fossil methanol losses, e.g., of that in cellulose pulp, can boost emissions by 63%. Low-pressure steam use in the biomass pretreatment, as well as biorefinery capacity increase by a factor of 2.5, have the greatest potential to reduce MSP of CLO to $530 and $614 per ton of ME, respectively.

Recent advances in the routes and catalysts for ethanol synthesis from syngas

Ethanol, as one of the important bulk chemicals, is widely used in modern society. It can be produced by fermentation of sugar, petroleum refining, or conversion of syngas (CO/H₂). Among these approaches, conversion of syngas to ethanol (STE) is the most environmentally friendly and economical process. Although considerable progress has been made in STE conversion, control of CO activation and C-C growth remains a great challenge. This review highlights recent advances in the routes and catalysts employed in STE technology. The catalyst designs and pathway designs are summarized and analysed for the direct and indirect STE routes, respectively. In the direct STE routes (i.e., one-step synthesis of ethanol from syngas), modified catalysts of methanol synthesis, modified catalysts of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, Mo-based catalysts, noble metal catalysts and multifunctional catalysts are systematically reviewed based on their catalyst designs. Further, in the indirect STE routes (i.e., multi-step processes for ethanol synthesis from syngas via methanol/dimethyl ether as intermediates), carbonylation of methanol/dimethyl ether followed by hydrogenation, and coupling of methanol with CO to form dimethyl oxalate followed by hydrogenation, are outlined according to their pathway designs. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive perspective on STE technology and inspire the invention of new catalysts and pathway designs in the near future.

Advances and Challenges in Biocatalysts Application for High Solid-Loading of Biomass for 2nd Generation Bio-Ethanol Production

Growth in population and thereby increased industrialization to meet its requirement, has elevated significantly the demand for energy resources. Depletion of fossil fuel and environmental sustainability issues encouraged the exploration of alternative renewable eco-friendly fuel resources. Among major alternative fuels, bio-ethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass is the most popular one. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable resource which is ubiquitous on our planet. All the plant biomass is lignocellulosic which is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, intricately linked to each other. Filamentous fungi are known to secrete a plethora of biomass hydrolyzing enzymes. Mostly these enzymes are inducible, hence the fungi secrete them economically which causes challenges in their hyperproduction. Biomass’s complicated structure also throws challenges for which pre-treatments of biomass are necessary to make the biomass amorphous to be accessible for the enzymes to act on it. The enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass is the most sustainable way for fermentable sugar generation to convert into ethanol. To have sufficient ethanol concentration in the broth for efficient distillation, high solid loading ~<20% of biomass is desirable and is the crux of the whole technology. High solid loading offers several benefits including a high concentration of sugars in broth, low equipment sizing, saving cost on infrastructure, etc. Along with the benefits, several challenges also emerged simultaneously, like issues of mass transfer, low reaction rate due to water constrains in, high inhibitor concentration, non-productive binding of enzyme lignin, etc. This article will give an insight into the challenges for cellulase action on cellulosic biomass at a high solid loading of biomass and its probable solutions.

Getting Value from Pulp and Paper Industry Wastes: On the Way to Sustainability and Circular Economy

The pulp and paper industry is recognized as a well-established sector, which throughout its process, generates a vast amount of waste streams with the capacity to be valorized. Typically, these residues are burned for energy purposes, but their use as substrates for biological processes could be a more efficient and sustainable alternative. With this aim, it is essential to identify and characterize each type of waste to determine its biotechnological potential. In this context, this research highlights possible alternatives with lower environmental impact and higher revenues. The bio-based pathway should be a promising alternative for the valorization of pulp and paper industry wastes, in particular for bioproduct production such as bioethanol, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and biogas. This article focuses on state of the art regarding the identification and characterization of these wastes, their main applied deconstruction technologies and the valorization pathways reported for the production of the abovementioned bioproducts.