Recent progress and challenges in biotechnological valorization of lignocellulosic materials: Towards sustainable biofuels and platform chemicals synthesis

Low-intensity magnetization pretreatment to enhance biomethane generation and the abundance of key microorganisms for anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

This work explores the impact of static magnetic field (SMF) intensity on biomethane production from anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge. Two different SMF intensities (20 mT and 1.5 T) were applied to magnetize the sludge destined to the AD process. The magnetic pretreatment at 20 mT was particularly effective, as it increased biomethane production by 12.7 % compared to the control test. On the contrary, exposing the sludge to 1.5 T adversely affected biomethane production, resulting in a 15.1 % decrease. The positive correlation observed between low-intensity SMF exposure and enhanced biomethane yield, in contrast to the inhibitory effect of high-intensity SMF, suggests the existence of an optimal intensity threshold within the lower range for maximizing methane production. The impact of magnetic pretreatment on the anaerobic microbial community was investigated through high-throughput sequencing analysis of magnetized sludge samples. This approach enabled the identification of specific shifts in microbial populations associated with SMF exposure, thereby elucidating the role of SMF in modulating key microbial communities for the AD process. The findings of this study provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying these responses and underscore the potential of SMF application for improving the anaerobic valorization of sewage sludge.

Elucidating the salt-tolerant mechanism of Halomonas cupida J9 and unsterile ectoine production from lignocellulosic biomass

BACKGROUND

Ectoine as an amino acid derivative is widely applied in many fields, such as the food industry, cosmetic manufacturing, biologics, and therapeutic agent. Large-scale production of ectoine is mainly restricted by the cost of fermentation substrates (e.g., carbon sources) and sterilization.

RESULTS

In this study, Halomonas cupida J9 was shown to be capable of synthesizing ectoine using xylose as the sole carbon source. A pathway was proposed in H. cupida J9 that synergistically utilizes both WBG xylose metabolism and EMP glucose metabolism for the synthesis of ectoine. Transcriptome analysis indicated that expression of ectoine biosynthesis module was enhanced under salt stress. Ectoine production by H. cupida J9 was enhanced by improving the expression of ectoine biosynthesis module, increasing the intracellular supply of the precursor oxaloacetate, and utilizing urea as the nitrogen source. The constructed J9U-P8EC achieved a record ectoine production of 4.12 g/L after 60 h of xylose fermentation. Finally, unsterile production of ectoine by J9U-P8EC from either a glucose-xylose mixture or corn straw hydrolysate was demonstrated, with an output of 8.55 g/L and 1.30 g/L of ectoine, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study created a promising H. cupida J9-based cell factory for low-cost production of ectoine. Our results highlight the potential of J9U-P8EC to utilize lignocellulose-rich agriculture waste for open production of ectoine.

Establishment of low-cost production platforms of polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics from Halomonas cupida J9

Microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is greatly restricted by high production cost arising from high-temperature sterilization and expensive carbon sources. In this study, a low-cost PHA production platform was established from Halomonas cupida J9. First, a marker-less genome-editing system was developed in H. cupida J9. Subsequently, H. cupida J9 was engineered to efficiently utilize xylose for PHA biosynthesis by introducing a new xylose metabolism module and blocking xylonate production. The engineered strain J9UΔxylD-P8xylA has the highest PHA yield (2.81 g/L) obtained by Halomonas with xylose as the sole carbon source so far. This is the first report on the production of short- and medium-chain-length (SCL-co-MCL) PHA from xylose by Halomonas. Interestingly, J9UΔxylD-P8xylA was capable of efficiently utilizing glucose and xylose as co-carbon sources for PHA production. Furthermore, fed-batch fermentation of J9UΔxylD-P8xylA coupled to a glucose/xylose co-feeding strategy reached up to 12.57 g/L PHA in a 5-L bioreactor under open and unsterile condition. Utilization of corn straw hydrolysate as the carbon source by J9UΔxylD-P8xylA reached 7.0 g/L cell dry weight (CDW) and 2.45 g/L PHA in an open fermentation. In summary, unsterile production in combination with inexpensive feedstock highlights the potential of the engineered strain for the low-cost production of PHA from lignocellulose-rich agriculture waste.

Effect of in-situ biochemical modification on the synthesis, structure, and function of xanthan gum based bacterial cellulose generated from Tieguanyin oolong tea residue hydrolysate

The effect of in-situ biochemical modification on the synthesis, structure, and function of xanthan gum based bacterial cellulose generated from Tieguanyin oolong tea residue hydrolysate was evaluated for the first time. This modification could overcome the inhibitory effect of the hydrolysate and the bacterial cellulose yield with 0.6% xanthan gum addition increased by 260.8% compared with that without xanthan gum addition. Bacterial cellulose and xanthan gum were combined by the in-situ modification and the alteration of fermentation medium rheological properties by xanthan gum addition might be beneficial for their combination. The average diameter of the bacterial cellulose microfibrils was increased by the modification, and it had a great influence on the crystalline structure of the bacterial cellulose. Additionally, both the water absorption and texture properties of the bacterial cellulose was strengthened by the modification. Overall, this modification showed great potential for efficient and effective xanthan gum based bacterial cellulose production.

Acidogenic fermentation of food waste to generate electron acceptors and donors towards medium-chain carboxylic acids production

This study investigated the optimum pH, temperature, and food-to-microorganisms (F/M) ratio for regulating the formation of electron acceptors and donors during acidogenic fermentation to facilitate medium-chain carboxylic acids (MCCAs) production from food waste. Mesophilic fermentation at pH 6 was optimal for producing mixed volatile fatty acids (719 ± 94 mg COD/g VS) as electron acceptors. Under mesophilic conditions, the F/M ratio (g VS/g VS) could be increased to 6 to generate 22 ± 2 g COD/L of electron acceptors alongside 2 ± 0 g COD/L of caproic acid. Thermophilic fermentation at pH 6 was the best condition for producing lactic acid as an electron donor. However, operating at F/M ratios above 3 g VS/g VS under thermophilic settings significantly reduced lactic acid yield. A preliminary techno-economic evaluation revealed that converting lactic acid and butyric acid generated during acidogenic fermentation to caproic acid was the most profitable food waste valorization scenario and could generate 442-468 €/t VS/y. The results presented in this study provide insights into how to tailor acidogenic fermentation reactions to desired intermediates and will help maximize MCCAs synthesis.

Fabrication and application of amphiphilic polyoxometalate catalyst (CTA)nH5-nPMo10V2O40 for transformation of lignin into aromatic chemicals

Conversion of renewable lignin into bio-aromatic chemicals offers a sustainable pathway to increase biorefinery profitability. However, the catalytic transformation of lignin into monomers remains a highly challenging task due to the complexity and stability of the lignin structure. In this study, a series of micellar molybdovanadophosphoric polyoxometalate (POM) catalysts, (CTA)_nH_5-nPMo₁₀V₂O₄₀ (n = 1-5), were prepared by the ion exchange method and applied as oxidative catalysts for birch lignin depolymerization. These catalysts showed efficient cleavage of C-O/C-C bonds in lignin, and the introduction of an amphiphilic structure facilitated the generation of monomer products. The best catalytic activity was observed at 150 °C within 150 min under a 1.5 MPa oxygen atmosphere over (CTA)₁H₄PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀, which yielded a maximum lignin oil yield of 48.7 % and lignin monomer yield of 13.5 %. We also employed phenolic and nonphenolic lignin dimer model compounds to explore the reaction pathway and demonstrated the selective cleavage of CC and/or CO lignin bonds. Moreover, these micellar catalysts have excellent recyclability and stability as heterogeneous catalysts, which can be used up to five times. The application of amphiphilic polyoxometalate catalysts facilitates the valorization of lignin, and we expect to develop a novel and practical strategy for harvesting aromatic compounds.

Application of a novel biological-nanoparticle pretreatment to Oscillatoria acuminata biomass and coculture dark fermentation for improving hydrogen production

BACKGROUND

Energy is the basis and assurance for a world's stable development; however, as traditional non-renewable energy sources deplete, the development and study of renewable clean energy have emerged. Using microalgae as a carbon source for anaerobic bacteria to generate biohydrogen is a clean energy generation system that both local and global peers see as promising.

RESULTS

Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter cloacae, and their coculture were used to synthesize biohydrogen using Oscillatoria acuminata biomass via dark fermentation. The total carbohydrate content in O. acuminata was 237.39 mg/L. To enhance the content of fermentable reducing sugars, thermochemical, biological, and biological with magnesium zinc ferrite nanoparticles (Mg-Zn Fe₂O₄-NPs) pretreatments were applied. Crude hydrolytic enzymes extracted from Trichoderma harzianum of biological pretreatment were enhanced by Mg-Zn Fe₂O₄-NPs and significantly increased reducing sugars (230.48 mg/g) four times than thermochemical pretreatment (45.34 mg/g). K. pneumonia demonstrated a greater accumulated hydrogen level (1022 mLH₂/L) than E. cloacae (813 mLH₂/L), while their coculture showed superior results (1520 mLH₂/L) and shortened the production time to 48 h instead of 72 h in single culture pretreatments. Biological pretreatment + Mg-Zn Fe₂O₄ NPs using coculture significantly stimulated hydrogen yield (3254 mLH₂/L), hydrogen efficiency)216.9 mL H₂/g reducing sugar( and hydrogen production rate (67.7 mL/L/h) to the maximum among all pretreatments.

CONCLUSION

These results confirm the effectiveness of biological treatments + Mg-Zn Fe₂O₄-NPs and coculture dark fermentation in upregulating biohydrogen production.