褐藻制备生物乙醇的生产优化研究

褐藻作为第三代生物乙醇生产原料,以其高碳水化合物含量、生产周期短、不与粮争地的优势逐渐被人们所关注。但是在生物乙醇的实际生产中,低成本基础上乙醇产率的提高一直是亟需解决的问题。主要针对褐藻制备生物乙醇的技术困难,综述了适用于大规模生产生物乙醇的预处理技术和糖化发酵技术的研究进展,并由此展望褐藻制备生物乙醇的研究发展新方向。     

海藻酸转化生物乙醇研究进展

作为第三代生物燃料,大型褐藻类生物质转化燃料乙醇的研究受到广泛的关注。但是,现有的乙醇工业菌株并不能利用褐藻中的主要成分海藻酸,这个问题是海藻生物乙醇实现工业化生产的主要技术难关。近几年随着对海藻酸裂解酶和海藻酸降解菌代谢途径的深入研究,科研人员构建了不同的海藻酸发酵菌株,为高效转化大型海藻生产生物乙醇提供了可行的技术基础。这篇文章对海藻酸资源概况和海藻酸转化生物乙醇存在的科学问题及其研究进展进行了综述。     

纤维素乙醇的生物炼制及研究进展

纤维素乙醇是以农业废弃生物质中的纤维素为主要原料、通过微生物发酵转化而成的生物燃料产品。作为一种绿色可再生替代能源,纤维素乙醇具有显著的能量收益和碳减排效益,对保障我国可持续发展、能源安全以及环境友好意义重大。然而,纤维素乙醇的生物炼制过程面临着难点和挑战。本文围绕纤维素原料及其预处理、纤维素酶水解和纤维素乙醇发酵工艺3个方面,介绍纤维素乙醇生物炼制的工艺流程及特征,剖析纤维素乙醇生产的主要技术瓶颈,并基于菌株抑制物胁迫耐性、碳源利用以及乙醇合成强化3个方面,总结了近年来纤维素乙醇生物炼制的研究进展,最后对纤维素乙醇未来的研究重点和发展前景进行了展望。     

纤维素乙醇生物加工过程中的抑制物对酿酒酵母的影响及应对措施

以木质纤维素为原料生产乙醇,预处理是必需的环节,这一过程中不可避免产生了多种对微生物有抑制作用的化合物,这些抑制物主要有3大类:弱酸、呋喃醛类和酚类化合物。这些化合物影响后续乙醇发酵微生物酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)的生长及发酵性能,降低了乙醇的得率和产量,是木质纤维素原料大规模生产乙醇的一个主要障碍。以下介绍了3类抑制物的形成及作用机制,并介绍了应对抑制物作用、提高酵母发酵能力的措施及研究进展,包括发酵前预处理原料脱毒、通过进化工程驯化菌种或通过对抑制物耐受性相关基因的代谢工程操作提高酿酒酵母耐受性,及通过发酵过程控制减少抑制物影响等。     

以玉米秸秆为原料同步糖化发酵生产燃料乙醇

以玉米秸秆为原料,经酸法预处理后,采用同步糖化发酵SSF工艺生产燃料乙醇。正交试验获得的最佳体系为:培养温度34℃、发酵pH值5.5、发酵的液固比8:1、当发酵108h后,乙醇浓度可达8.33g/L。该实验为纤维质燃料乙醇的产业化生产提供技术依据。     

抑制剂耐受性酵母底盘细胞的设计与构建

纤维素乙醇是一种低碳清洁的绿色能源,可与传统石油基液体燃料混合使用,具备广阔的应用前景.纤维素乙醇的生产历经木质纤维素预处理、糖化和酿酒酵母发酵等工艺,而预处理过程会产生多种副产物,显著抑制酵母细胞的生长速率和发酵性能.因此,构建抑制剂耐受性酵母底盘细胞,有助于提高纤维素乙醇的生产效率,降低生产成本.针对抑制剂耐受性酵...     

纤维素乙醇技术开发进展

生产纤维素乙醇的转化途径,大部分的研发都集中在生物化学途径或热化学途径,均可从生物质生产乙醇。生物化学途径使用酶,使经预处理的木质纤维素生物质原料转化成糖类,糖类然后再发酵成乙醇。热化学途径是将生物质原料气化以制取合成气,合成气然后利用化学催化的化学反应被转化成乙醇。     

微生物木糖发酵产乙醇的代谢工程

利用木质纤维素发酵生产乙醇具有广泛的应用前景。而自然界中缺少有效转化木糖为乙醇的微生物是充分利用纤维素水解产物、提高乙醇产率、降低生产成本的关键因素。多年来研究者利用分子生物学技术对微生物菌株进行了代谢工程改造,使其能更有效地利用木糖生产乙醇。以下主要对运动发酵单胞菌、大肠杆菌和酵母等候选产乙醇微生物的木糖代谢工程研究进展进行了概述。     

选育耐受复合抑制剂酿酒酵母提高乙醇产量

能够耐受纤维素预处理中抑制剂的酿酒酵母对高效、经济生产纤维素乙醇至关重要。利用诱变结合驯化工程选育了一株可耐受复合抑制剂(1.3g/L糠醛、5.3g/L乙酸及1.0g/L苯酚)的工业酿酒酵母YYJ003。在pH 4.0的含有抑制剂的培养基中,耐受菌株乙醇产率是原始菌株的7.8倍,糠醛转化速率提高了5倍。在pH 5.5的复合抑制剂条件下,YYJ003发酵时间(16h)比野生菌株发酵时间(22h)缩短6h。在pH 4.0的未脱毒的玉米秸秆水热法预处理水解液中YYJ003的乙醇产率达到0.50g/g(乙醇/葡萄糖),乙醇产速达到4.16g/(L·h),而对照菌株无乙醇产出。     

氧限制下粗糙脉孢菌乙醇发酵的数学模型及过程模拟

粗糙脉孢菌(Mzcrospora crassan)具有直接转化植物纤维性物质生产乙醇的能力。研究了不同氧限制条件对粗糙脉孢菌发酵葡萄糖生产乙醇的影响,构建了该过程的数学模型,并利用数学模型进行了模拟和预测研究。结果表明,数学模型能够很好地预测氧限制条件下乙醇的发酵过程,即使微量氧对乙醇发酵也有较大的负面影响。     

Application of low-cost algal nitrogen source feeding in fuel ethanol production using high gravity sweet potato medium

Protein-rich bloom algae biomass was employed as nitrogen source in fuel ethanol fermentation using high gravity sweet potato medium containing 210.0 g l(-1) glucose. In batch mode, the fermentation could not accomplish even in 120 h without any feeding of nitrogen source. While, the feeding of acid-hydrolyzed bloom algae powder (AHBAP) notably promoted fermentation process but untreated bloom algae powder (UBAP) was less effective than AHBAP. The fermentation times were reduced to 96, 72, and 72 h if 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 g l(-1) AHBAP were added into medium, respectively, and the ethanol yields and productivities increased with increasing amount of feeding AHBAP. The continuous fermentations were performed in a three-stage reactor system. Final concentrations of ethanol up to 103.2 and 104.3 g l(-1) with 4.4 and 5.3 g l(-1) residual glucose were obtained using the previously mentioned medium feeding with 20.0 and 30.0 g l(-1) AHBAP, at dilution rate of 0.02 h(-1). Notably, only 78.5 g l(-1) ethanol and 41.6 g l(-1) residual glucose were obtained in the comparative test without any nitrogen source feeding. Amino acids analysis showed that approximately 67% of the protein in the algal biomass was hydrolyzed and released into the medium, serving as the available nitrogen nutrition for yeast growth and metabolism. Both batch and continuous fermentations showed similar fermentation parameters when 20.0 and 30.0 g l(-1) AHBAP were fed, indicating that the level of available nitrogen in the medium should be limited, and an algal nitrogen source feeding amount higher than 20.0 g l(-1) did not further improve the fermentation performance.     

FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF INORGANIC NITROGEN UPTAKE BY EPIFLORA COMPONENTS OF THE SEAGRASS POSIDONIA OCEANICA (MONOCOTYLEDONS,POSIDONIACEAE)1

Crustose corallines, crustose and erect brown algae, and sessile animals are major components of the epiphytic community of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. Production, biomass, and specific composition of this epiphyte–seagrass association are impacted by anthropogenic increase of nutrient load in this oligotrophic area. In this context, nitrogen uptake by P. oceanica and its epiflora was measured using the isotope ¹⁵N at a 10 m depth in the Revellata Bay (Corsica, Mediterranean Sea). Epiflora components showed various seasonal patterns of biomass and abundance. The epiphytic brown algae appeared at the end of spring, later than the crustose corallines, and after the nitrate peak in the bay. Because of their later development in the season, epiphytic brown algae mostly rely on ammonium for their N needs. We hypothesize that the temporal succession of epiphytic organisms plays a crucial role in the N dynamics of this community under natural conditions. The epiphytic brown algae, which have a growth rate one order of magnitude greater than that of crustose corallines, showed lower N‐uptake rates. The greater N‐uptake rates of crustose corallines probably reflect the greater N requirements (i.e., lower C/N ratios) of red algae. We determined that the epiflora incorporated ammonium and nitrate more rapidly than their host. Nevertheless, when biomass was taken into account, P. oceanica was the most important contributor to N uptake from the water column by benthic macrophytes in this seagrass bed.     

Ethanol fermentation from biomass resources: current state and prospects

In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to the conversion of biomass into fuel ethanol, considered the cleanest liquid fuel alternative to fossil fuels. Significant advances have been made towards the technology of ethanol fermentation. This review provides practical examples and gives a broad overview of the current status of ethanol fermentation including biomass resources, microorganisms, and technology. Also, the promising prospects of ethanol fermentation are especially introduced. The prospects included are fermentation technology converting xylose to ethanol, cellulase enzyme utilized in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials, immobilization of the microorganism in large systems, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and sugar conversion into ethanol.     

Micro and macroalgal biomass: A renewable source for bioethanol

Population outburst together with increased motorization has led to an overwhelming increase in the demand for fuel. In the milieu of economical and environmental concern, algae capable of accumulating high starch/cellulose can serve as an excellent alternative to food crops for bioethanol production, a green fuel for sustainable future. Certain species of algae can produce ethanol during dark-anaerobic fermentation and thus serve as a direct source for ethanol production. Of late, oleaginous microalgae generate high starch/cellulose biomass waste after oil extraction, which can be hydrolyzed to generate sugary syrup to be used as substrate for ethanol production. Macroalgae are also harnessed as renewable source of biomass intended for ethanol production. Currently there are very few studies on this issue, and intense research is required in future in this area for efficient utilization of algal biomass and their industrial wastes to produce environmentally friendly fuel bioethanol.     

Anaerobic biotechnological approaches for production of liquid energy carriers from biomass

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the use of renewable biomass for energy production. Anaerobic biotechnological approaches for production of liquid energy carriers (ethanol and a mixture of acetone, butanol and ethanol) from biomass can be employed to decrease environmental pollution and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. There are two major biological processes that can convert biomass to liquid energy carriers via anaerobic biological breakdown of organic matter: ethanol fermentation and mixed acetone, butanol, ethanol (ABE) fermentation. The specific product formation is determined by substrates and microbial communities available as well as the operating conditions applied. In this review, we evaluate the recent biotechnological approaches employed in ethanol and ABE fermentation. Practical applicability of different technologies is discussed taking into account the microbiology and biochemistry of the processes.     

Butyric acid production from brown algae using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium tyrobutyricum</Emphasis> ATCC 25755

Butyric acid fermentation by Clostridium tyrobutyricum ATCC 25755 using glucose or brown algae as a carbon source was carried out. Initially, different fermentation modes (batch, fed-batch, and semi-continuous) at pH 6 and 37°C were compared using a model medium containing glucose as a carbon source. By feeding the whole medium containing 40 ∼ 50 and 30 g/L of glucose into the fed-batch and semi-continuous fermentations, very similar butyrate yields (0.274 and 0.252 g butyrate/g glucose, respectively) and productivities (0.362 and 0.355 g/L/h, respectively) were achieved. The highest butyrate concentration was about 50 g/L, which was observed in the fed-batch fermentation with whole medium feeding. However, semi-continuous fermentation sustained a longer fermentation cycle than the fed-batch fermentation due to end-product and metabolic waste inhibition. The established conditions were then applied to the fermentation using brown algae, Laminaria japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, as substrates for butyric acid fermentation. To hydrolyze brown algae, 7.5 ∼ 10% (w/v) dried brown algae powder was suspended in 1% (w/v) NaOH or 0.5 ∼ 2.5% (w/v) H₂SO₄ and then autoclaved at 121°C for 30 ∼ 90 min. The resulting butyrate concentration was about 11 g/L, which was produced from 100 g/L of L. japonica autoclaved for 60 min in 1.5% H₂SO₄ acid solution.     

Purification and characterization of a novel alginate lyase from the marine bacterium Cobetia sp. NAP1 isolated from brown algae

The application of marine resources, instead of fossil fuels, for biomass production is important for building a sustainable society. Seaweed is valuable as a source of marine biomass for producing biofuels such as ethanol, and can be used in various fields. Alginate is an anionic polysaccharide that forms the main component of brown algae. Various alginate lyases (e.g. exo- and endo-types and oligoalginate lyase) are generally used to degrade alginate. We herein describe a novel alginate lyase, AlgC-PL7, which belongs to the polysaccharide lyase 7 family. AlgC-PL7 was isolated from the halophilic Gram-negative bacterium Cobetia sp. NAP1 collected from the brown algae Padina arborescens Holmes. The optimal temperature and pH for AlgC-PL7 activity were 45 °C and 8, respectively. Additionally, AlgC-PL7 was thermostable and salt-tolerant, exhibited broad substrate specificity, and degraded alginate into monosaccharides. Therefore, AlgC-PL7 is a promising enzyme for the production of biofuels.     

Efficient xylose fermentation by the brown rot fungus Neolentinus lepideus

The efficient production of bioethanol on an industrial scale requires the use of renewable lignocellulosic biomass as a starting material. A limiting factor in developing efficient processes is identifying microorganisms that are able to effectively ferment xylose, the major pentose sugar found in hemicellulose, and break down carbohydrate polymers without pre-treatment steps. Here, a basidiomycete brown rot fungus was isolated as a new biocatalyst with unprecedented fermentability, as it was capable of converting not only the 6-carbon sugars constituting cellulose, but also the major 5-carbon sugar xylose in hemicelluloses, to ethanol. The fungus was identified as Neolentinus lepideus and was capable of assimilating and fermenting xylose to ethanol in yields of 0.30, 0.33, and 0.34 g of ethanol per g of xylose consumed under aerobic, oxygen-limited, and anaerobic conditions, respectively. A small amount of xylitol was detected as the major by-product of xylose metabolism. N. lepideus produced ethanol from glucose, mannose, galactose, cellobiose, maltose, and lactose with yields ranging from 0.34 to 0.38 g ethanol per g sugar consumed, and also exhibited relatively favorable conversion of non-pretreated starch, xylan, and wheat bran. These results suggest that N. lepideus is a promising candidate for cost-effective and environmentally friendly ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. To our knowledge, this is the first report on efficient ethanol fermentation from various carbohydrates, including xylose, by a naturally occurring brown rot fungus.     

Lessons from the cow: What the ruminant animal can teach us about consolidated bioprocessing of cellulosic biomass

Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of cellulosic biomass is a promising source of ethanol. This process uses anaerobic bacteria, their own cellulolytic enzymes and fermentation pathways that convert the products of cellulose hydrolysis to ethanol in a single reactor. However, the engineering and economics of the process remain questionable. The ruminal fermentation is a very highly developed natural cellulose-degrading system. We propose that breakthroughs developed by cattle and other ruminant animals in cellulosic biomass conversion can guide future improvements in engineered CBP systems. These breakthroughs include, among others, an elegant and effective physical pretreatment; operation at high solids loading under non-aseptic conditions; minimal nutrient requirements beyond the plant biomass itself; efficient fermentation of nearly all plant components; efficient recovery of primary fermentation end-products; and production of useful co-products. Ruminal fermentation does not produce significant amounts of ethanol, but it produces volatile fatty acids and methane at a rapid rate. Because these alternative products have a high energy content, efforts should be made to recover these products and convert them to other organic compounds, particularly transportation fuels.