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Tomás-Pejó E, González-Fernández C, Greses S, Kennes C, Otero-Logilde N, Veiga MC, Bolzonella D, Müller B, Passoth V. Production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as chemicals or substrates for microbes to obtain biochemicals. Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod 2023; 16:96. [PMID: 37270640 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02349-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Carboxylic acids have become interesting platform molecules in the last years due to their versatility to act as carbon sources for different microorganisms or as precursors for the chemical industry. Among carboxylic acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, and caproic acids can be biotechnologically produced in an anaerobic fermentation process from lignocellulose or other organic wastes of agricultural, industrial, or municipal origin. The biosynthesis of SCFAs is advantageous compared to chemical synthesis, since the latter relies on fossil-derived raw materials, expensive and toxic catalysts and harsh process conditions. This review article gives an overview on biosynthesis of SCFAs from complex waste products. Different applications of SCFAs are explored and how these acids can be considered as a source of bioproducts, aiming at the development of a circular economy. The use of SCFAs as platform molecules requires adequate concentration and separation processes that are also addressed in this review. Various microorganisms such as bacteria or oleaginous yeasts can efficiently use SCFA mixtures derived from anaerobic fermentation, an attribute that can be exploited in microbial electrolytic cells or to produce biopolymers such as microbial oils or polyhydroxyalkanoates. Promising technologies for the microbial conversion of SCFAs into bioproducts are outlined with recent examples, highlighting SCFAs as interesting platform molecules for the development of future bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elia Tomás-Pejó
- Biotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA Energy, 28935, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina González-Fernández
- Biotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA Energy, 28935, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Silvia Greses
- Biotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA Energy, 28935, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Christian Kennes
- Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), BIOENGIN Group, University of La Coruña, E-15008, La Coruña, Spain
| | - Nuria Otero-Logilde
- Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), BIOENGIN Group, University of La Coruña, E-15008, La Coruña, Spain
| | - María C Veiga
- Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), BIOENGIN Group, University of La Coruña, E-15008, La Coruña, Spain
| | - David Bolzonella
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Bettina Müller
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7070, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Volkmar Passoth
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7070, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
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