Complementary substrate-selectivity of metabolic adaptive convergence in the lignocellulolytic performance by Dichomitus squalens

Bioprocess-Technological Potential of Irradiation-Based Fungal Pretreatment Platform Relevant to Lignocellulolytic Biocascade

Lignocellulose-decaying fungal bioplatforms available are not commercially accessible and are limited to short-term use. In this study, those limitations were overcome by developing a platform using water-soaked rice straw (RS) biodegraded by irradiation-based fungal pretreatment (IBFP). This eco-friendly system increased the ability of RS to biodegrade and ferment without the generation of inhibitory compounds. When processed RS (i.e., with a water-soaking ratio of 81 % and irradiation dose of 80 kGy at 1 MeV and 0.12 mA) was pretreated with Dichomitus squalens for 9 days, the sugar yield was 58.5 % of the theoretical maximum. This sugar yield was comparable to that obtained with unirradiated RS for 15 days, which was 57.9 %. Furthermore, the ethanol concentration of 9.7 g L(-1) provided a yield of 58.1 %; the theoretical maximum and productivity at 0.40 g L(-1) h(-1) were determined after simultaneous saccharification and fermentation for 24 h. In addition, microscopic images revealed that IBFP induced predominant ultrastructural modifications to the surface of cell wall fibers. The peroxidative profiles for different biosystems were analyzed in order to understand substrate-specific biocascades based on the differences in biomass components. The activation level of core lignocellulolysis-related factors was analogous under the optimized conditions of each system.

Effective inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in minimally processed Makgeolli using low-pressure homogenization-based pasteurization

In order to address the limitations associated with the inefficient pasteurization platform used to make Makgeolli, such as the presence of turbid colloidal dispersions in suspension, commercially available Makgeolli was minimally processed using a low-pressure homogenization-based pasteurization (LHBP) process. This continuous process demonstrates that promptly reducing the exposure time to excessive heat using either large molecules or insoluble particles can dramatically improve internal quality and decrease irreversible damage. Specifically, optimal homogenization increased concomitantly with physical parameters such as colloidal stability (65.0% of maximum and below 25-μm particles) following two repetitions at 25.0 MPa. However, biochemical parameters such as microbial population, acidity, and the presence of fermentable sugars rarely affected Makgeolli quality. Remarkably, there was a 4.5-log reduction in the number of Saccharomyces cerevisiae target cells at 53.5°C for 70 sec in optimally homogenized Makgeolli. This value was higher than the 37.7% measured from traditionally pasteurized Makgeolli. In contrast to the analytical similarity among homogenized Makgeollis, our objective quality evaluation demonstrated significant differences between pasteurized (or unpasteurized) Makgeolli and LHBP-treated Makgeolli. Low-pressure homogenization-based pasteurization, Makgeolli, minimal processing-preservation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suspension stability.

Process evaluation of electron beam irradiation-based biodegradation relevant to lignocellulose bioconversion

In order to solve the inefficient problem of long-term biodegradation by wood-decaying fungus, rice straw (RS) was depolymerized using electron beam irradiation-based biodegradation (EBIBB). This environment-friendly program without the use of inhibitory byproducts significantly increased the digestibility and fermentability of RS. Specifically, when irradiated RS was simultaneously biodegraded by Phanerochaete chrysosporium for 10 days, the sugar yield was 65.5% of the theoretical maximum. This value was on the same level as the 64.8% (for 15 days) measured from unirradiated RS. In case of fermentability, similarly, EBIBB program had an effect on time/energy saving. Furthermore, the transcriptomic profiles under different biosystem were analyzed in order to verify possible substrate-specific regulation based on change of lignocellulosic components. Interestingly, the overall correlation based on the bias (upregulation or downregulation) was reasonably analogous, especially lignocellulolysis-related genes.

Electron beam irradiation enhances the digestibility and fermentation yield of water-soaked lignocellulosic biomass

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Hydrolysis yield by WEBI is not less than that of a conventional system.

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Adequate diffusion of the solvent can induce a high-yield of digestibility.

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Ethanol productivity by WEBI is not less than that of a conventional system.

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In environmentally friendly WEBI, inhibitory compounds were not detected.

In order to overcome the limitation of commercial electron beam irradiation (EBI), lignocellulosic rice straw (RS) was pretreated using water soaking-based electron beam irradiation (WEBI). This environment-friendly pretreatment, without the formation (or release) of inhibitory compounds (especially hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural), significantly increased the enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation yields of RS. Specifically, when water-soaked RS (solid:liquid ratio of 100%) was treated with WEBI doses of 1 MeV at 80 kGy, 0.12 mA, the glucose yield after 120 h of hydrolysis was 70.4% of the theoretical maximum. This value was predominantly higher than the 29.5% and 52.1% measured from untreated and EBI-treated RS, respectively. Furthermore, after simultaneous saccharification and fermentation for 48 h, the ethanol concentration, production yield, and productivity were 9.3 g/L, 57.0% of the theoretical maximum, and 0.19 g/L h, respectively. Finally, scanning electron microscopy images revealed that WEBI induced significant ultrastructural changes to the surface of lignocellulosic fibers.