Eastern gamagrass as an alternative cellulosic feedstock for bioethanol production

Eastern gamagrass (Trypsacum dactyloides) is a C₄ perennial grass, native to the USA with desirable characteristics that warrants further investigation as a new lignocellulosic crop for bioethanol production. Chemical composition assays showed that eastern gamagrass had comparable cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin compositions to those of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). With the cellulose solvent-based lignocellulose fractionation (CSLF) pretreatment and subsequent enzymatic saccharification, 80.5–99.8% of cellulosic glucose was released from the gamagrass biomass, which was 10–17% greater than the glucose release efficiency from switchgrass (73.5–87.1%). Furthermore, the hydrolysate of gamagrass supported greater ethanol fermentation yield (up to 0.496 g/g glucose) than the hydrolysates of switchgrass. As such, in the whole process of biomass-to-ethanol conversion, gamagrass could yield 13–35% more ethanol per gram of biomass than switchgrass, indicating that gamagrass has high potential as an alternative energy feedstock for lignocellulosic ethanol production.     

Acetic acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment of corn stover for the production of bioethanol at high-solids content

Corn stover (CS) was hydrothermally pretreated using CH₃COOH (0.3 %, v/v), and subsequently its ability to be utilized for conversion to ethanol at high-solids content was investigated. Pretreatment conditions were optimized employing a response surface methodology (RSM) with temperature and duration as independent variables. Pretreated CS underwent a liquefaction/saccharification step at a custom designed free-fall mixer at 50 °C for either 12 or 24 h using an enzyme loading of 9 mg/g dry matter (DM) at 24 % (w/w) DM. Simultaneous enzymatic saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of liquefacted corn stover resulted in high ethanol concentration (up to 36.8 g/L), with liquefaction duration having a negligible effect. The threshold of ethanol concentration of 4 % (w/w), which is required to reduce the cost of ethanol distillation, was surpassed by the addition of extra enzymes at the start up of SSF achieving this way ethanol titer of 41.5 g/L.     

Improved bioethanol production from corn stover by alkali pretreatment with a novel pilot-scale continuous microwave irradiation reactor

A novel continuous microwave irradiation (MWI) pilot-scale reactor was designed specifically for biomass pretreatment. To test the efficiency of this reactor, MWI-assisted alkali pretreatment of corn straw (CS) was investigated using a central composite design for the response surface methodology. With a processing capacity of 0.28 kg CS (dry matter, DM)/h, the optimal conditions were as follows: 4.50 kW, 30 min, and 3.50% NaOH (w/v). The glucose and ethanol production from the pretreated CS were 63.22 and 31.29 g/100 g DM, respectively. These values were 4.42 and 3.79 times higher, respectively, than those from untreated CS. Structural changes in the untreated/pretreated CS were identified by analyzing its chemical composition using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the solid residue recovery ratio was demonstrated to be an indicator of the biomass bioconversion potential.     

响应面法优化玉米秸秆同步酶解发酵产乙醇条件

对汽爆玉米秸秆同步酶解发酵生产乙醇的条件进行优化。首先利用Fractional Factorial设计法对影响乙醇产量的7个因素进行评价,筛选出具有显著效应的3个因素,即反应温度、酶添加量、总反应时间,再以Box—Behnken设计法及响应面分析法确定主要因素的最佳水平,即反应温度37℃,每g纤维素添加纤维素酶32u,反应时间87h,此时乙醇体积分数达到3．69％。新工艺条件实验结果表明,乙醇体积分数在87h可达到3．76％,和原工艺相比,反应时间缩短了9h,乙醇体积分数提高了13％。     

Ensiling corn stover: effect of feedstock preservation on particleboard performance

Ensilage is a truncated solid-state fermentation in which anaerobically produced organic acids accumulate to reduce pH and limit microbial activity. Ensilage can be used to both preserve and pretreat biomass feedstock for further downstream conversion into chemicals, fuels, and/or fiber products. This study examined the ensilage of enzyme-treated corn stover as a feedstock for particleboard manufacturing. Corn stover at three different particle size ranges (<100, <10, and <5 mm) was ensiled with and without a commercial enzyme mixture having a cellulase:hemicellulase ratio of 2.54:1, applied at a hemicellulase rate of 1670 IU/kg dry mass. Triplicate 20 L mini-silos were destructively sampled and analyzed on days 0, 1, 7, 21, 63, and 189. Analysis included produced organic acids and water-soluble carbohydrates, fiber fractions, pH, and microorganisms, including Lactobacillus spp. and clostridia were monitored. On days 0, 21, and 189, the triplicate samples were mixed evenly and assembled into particleboard using 10% ISU 2 resin, a soy-based adhesive. Particleboard panels were subjected to industry standard tests for modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding strength (IB), thickness swell (TS), and water absorption at 2 h boiling and 24 h soaking. Enzyme addition did improve the ensilage process, as indicated by sustained lower pH (P < 0.0001), higher water-soluble carbohydrates (P < 0.05), and increased lactic acid production (P < 0.0001). The middle particle size range (<10 mm) demonstrated the most promising results during the ensilage process. Compared with fresh stover, the ensilage process did increase IB of stover particleboard by 33% (P < 0.05) and decrease water adsorption at 2 h boiling and 24 h soaking significantly (P < 0.05). Particleboard panels produced from substrate ensiled with enzymes showed a significant reduction in water adsorption of 12% at 2 h boiling testing. On the basis of these results, ensilage can be used as a long-term feedstock preservation method for particleboard production from corn stover. Enzyme-amended ensilage not only improved stover preservation but also enhanced the properties of particleboard products.     

Tree legumes as feedstock for sustainable biofuel production: Opportunities and challenges

Concerns about future fossil fuel supplies and the environmental effects of their consumption have prompted the search for alternative sources of liquid fuels, specifically biofuels. However, it is important that the sources of such biofuel have minimal impact on global food supplies, land use, and commodity prices. Many legume trees can be grown on so-called marginal land with beneficial effects to the environment through their symbiotic interaction with “Rhizobia” and the associated process of root nodule development and biological nitrogen fixation. Once established legume trees can live for many years and some produce an annual yield of oil-rich seeds. For example, the tropical and sub-tropical legume tree Pongamia pinnata produces large seeds (∼1.5-2 g) that contain about 40% oil, the quality and composition of which is regarded as highly desirable for sustainable biofuel production. Here we consider the benefits of legume trees as future energy crops, particularly in relation to their impact on nitrogen inputs and the net energy balance for biofuel production, and also ways in which these as yet fully domesticated species may be further improved for optimal use as biofuel feedstock.     

Onsite bio-detoxification of steam-exploded corn stover for cellulosic ethanol production

In the process of ethanol production from steam-exploded corn stover (SECS), a cellulose-degradation strain of Aspergillus nidulans (FLZ10) was investigated whether it could remove the inhibitors released from steam exploded pretreatment , and thereby be used for biological detoxification on Saccharomycescerevisiae. The results showed that FLZ10 removed 75.2% formic acid, 53.6% acetic acid, and 100% hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) and furfural from the hydrolysate washed from SECS after 72 h cultivation. A cellulase activity of 0.49 IU/ml was simultaneously produced while the biological detoxification occurred. An ethanol yield of 0.45 g/g on glucose was obtained in the hydrolysate biodetoxified by FLZ10. The glucose consumption rate of FLZ10 was much lower than that of S. cerevisiae, thereby it had little competition with S. cerevisiae on glucose consumption. Based on SECS to ethanol mass balance analysis, with the onsite bio-detoxification, fermentation using S. cerevisiae effectively converted monomeric glucose with 94.4% ethanol yield.     

Production, transportation and milling costs of sweet sorghum as a feedstock for centralized bioethanol production in the upper Midwest

Sweet sorghum has been identified as a possible ethanol feedstock because of its biomass yield and high concentration of readily fermentable sugars. It has found limited use, however, because of poor post-harvest storage characteristics and short harvest window in cooler climates. Previous research (Bennett, A.S., Anex, R.P., 2008. Farm-gate production costs of sweet sorghum as a bioethanol feedstock. Transactions of the ASABE 51(2), 603-613) indicates that fermentable carbohydrates (FC) can be produced at less expense from sweet sorghum than from corn grain. Previous research, however, did not include costs associated with off-farm transportation, storage, or capital costs associated with milling and energy recovery equipment that are required to provide FC suitable for biological conversion. This study includes these additional costs and reevaluates sweet sorghum as a biocommodity feedstock. A total of eight harvest-transport-processing options are modeled, including 4-row self-propelled and 2-row tractor-pulled forage harvesters, two different modes of in-field transport, fresh processing, on-farm ensilage and at-plant ensilage. Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis are used to account for system variability and compare scenarios. Transportation costs are found to be significant ranging from $33 to $71 Mg (-1) FC, with highest costs associated with at-plant ensilage scenarios. Economies of scale benefit larger milling equipment and boiler systems reducing FC costs by more than 50% when increasing annual plant capacity from 37.9 to 379 million liters. Ensiled storage of high moisture sweet sorghum in bunkers can lead to significant losses of FC (>20%) and result in systems with net FC costs well above those of corn-derived FC. Despite relatively high transport costs, seasonal, fresh processed sweet sorghum is found to produce FC at costs competitive with corn grain derived FC.     

A bioethanol process development unit: initial operating experiences and results with a corn fiber feedstock

Interest in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks for use as an alternative fuel is increasing, but near-term commercialization will require a low cost feedstock. One such feedstock, corn fiber, was tested in the US Department of Energy (DOE)/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) bioethanol pilot plant for the purpose of testing integrated equipment operation and generating performance data. During initial runs in 1995, the plant was operated for two runs lasting 10 and 15 days each and utilized unit operations for feedstock handling, pretreatment by dilute sulfuric-acid hydrolysis, yeast inoculum production, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using a commercially available cellulase enzyme. Although significant operational problems were encountered, as would be expected with the startup of any new plant, operating experience was gained and preliminary data were generated on corn fiber pretreatment and subsequent fermentation of the pretreated material. Bacterial contamination was a significant problem during these fermentations.     

Yeasts in sustainable bioethanol production: A review

Bioethanol has been identified as the mostly used biofuel worldwide since it significantly contributes to the reduction of crude oil consumption and environmental pollution. It can be produced from various types of feedstocks such as sucrose, starch, lignocellulosic and algal biomass through fermentation process by microorganisms. Compared to other types of microoganisms, yeasts especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the common microbes employed in ethanol production due to its high ethanol productivity, high ethanol tolerance and ability of fermenting wide range of sugars. However, there are some challenges in yeast fermentation which inhibit ethanol production such as high temperature, high ethanol concentration and the ability to ferment pentose sugars. Various types of yeast strains have been used in fermentation for ethanol production including hybrid, recombinant and wild-type yeasts. Yeasts can directly ferment simple sugars into ethanol while other type of feedstocks must be converted to fermentable sugars before it can be fermented to ethanol. The common processes involves in ethanol production are pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation. Production of bioethanol during fermentation depends on several factors such as temperature, sugar concentration, pH, fermentation time, agitation rate, and inoculum size. The efficiency and productivity of ethanol can be enhanced by immobilizing the yeast cells. This review highlights the different types of yeast strains, fermentation process, factors affecting bioethanol production and immobilization of yeasts for better bioethanol production.     

Mucoralean fungi for sustainable production of bioethanol and biologically active molecules

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Mucoralean fungi are suitable microorganisms for the sustainable production of food, fodder, and fuels from inexpensive natural resources. Ethanol-producing...     

Coffee oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production

A preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of producing biodiesel using oil extracted from defective coffee beans was conducted as an alternative means of utilizing these beans instead of roasting for consumption of beverage with depreciated quality. Direct transesterifications of triglycerides from refined soybean oil (reference) and from oils extracted from healthy and defective coffee beans were performed. Type of alcohol employed and time were the reaction parameters studied. Sodium methoxide was used as alkaline catalyst. There was optimal phase separation after reactions using both soybean and healthy coffee beans oils when methanol was used. This was not observed when using the oil from defective beans which required further processing to obtain purified alkyl esters. Nevertheless, coffee oil was demonstrated to be a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, both from healthy and defective beans, since the corresponding oils were successfully converted to fatty acid methyl and ethyl esters.     

Bermuda grass as feedstock for biofuel production: a review

Bermuda grass is a promising feedstock for the production of fuel ethanol in the Southern United States. This paper presents a review of the significant amount of research on the conversion of Bermuda grass to ethanol and a brief discussion on the factors affecting the biomass production in the field. The biggest challenge of biomass conversion comes from the recalcitrance of lignocellulose. A variety of chemical, physico-chemical, and biological pretreatment methods have been investigated to improve the digestibility of Bermuda grass with encouraging results reported. The subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation steps have also been extensively studied and effectively optimized. It is expected that the development of genetic engineering technologies for the grass and fermenting organisms has the potential to greatly improve the economic viability of Bermuda grass-based fuel ethanol production systems. Other energy applications of Bermuda grass include anaerobic digestion for biogas generation and pyrolysis for syngas production.     

Lactic acid production from pretreated corn stover with recycled streams

In order to overcome bottlenecks of the high amount of cellulase consumption in lignocellulosic l-Lactic acid (LA) production, a non-sterilized fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) -membrane separation integration process was established in this current work. During the process, residual cellulase that remaining in the waste aqueous solution and solid residuals of corn stover (CS) were recycled and reused in subsequent fermentations. A total 6 rounds of operation were performed. Averagely, LA yield of 0.389 g g⁻¹ (pretreated CS) was achieved, which was 1.20 times higher than that of the conventional process without waste stream recycling. Moreover, the wastewater discharge and the cost of nutrients for fermentation can also hugely decrease. Results indicated that cellulase, wastewater discharge and nutrients consumption of the process reduced by 47.4 %, 73.7 % and 86.1 %, respectively. This study opens a promising way for the reduction of second-generation LA production cost, which could significantly change the economic feasibility of the LA biorefineries.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide pretreatment of corn stover and switchgrass for lignocellulosic ethanol production

Supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂), a green solvent suitable for a mobile lignocellulosic biomass processor, was used to pretreat corn stover and switchgrass at various temperatures and pressures. The CO₂ pressure was released as quickly as possible by opening a quick release valve during the pretreatment. The biomass was hydrolyzed after pretreatment using cellulase combined with β-glucosidase. The hydrolysate was analyzed for the amount of glucose released. Glucose yields from corn stover samples pretreated with SC-CO₂ were higher than the untreated sample’s 12% glucose yield (12 g/100 g dry biomass) and the highest glucose yield of 30% was achieved with SC-CO₂ pretreatment at 3500 psi and 150 °C for 60 min. The pretreatment method showed very limited improvement (14% vs. 12%) in glucose yield for switchgrass. X-ray diffraction results indicated no change in crystallinity of the SC-CO₂ treated corn stover when compared to the untreated, while SEM images showed an increase in surface area.     

Performance of a newly developed integrant of Zymomonas mobilis for ethanol production on corn stover hydrolysate

Efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass requires biocatalysts able to tolerate inhibitors produced by many pretreatment processes. Recombinant Zymomonas mobilis 8b, a recently developed integrant of Zymomonas mobilis 31821(pZB5), tolerated acetic acid up to 16 g l(-1) and achieved 82%-87% (w/w) ethanol yields from pure glucose/xylose solutions at pH 6 and temperatures of 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C. An ethanol yield of 85% (w/w) was achieved on glucose/xylose from hydrolysate produced by dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of corn stover after an overliming' process was used to improve hydrolysate fermentability.     

萃取耦合技术对玉米秸秆水解液发酵产丁醇的影响

本研究以玉米秸秆水解液为原料,通过萃取发酵技术生产燃料丁醇,以提高丁醇产量,降低生产成本。通过对萃取剂的筛选与条件优化,确定纤维丁醇发酵的萃取剂为油醇,添加时间为发酵0 h,添加比例为1:1 (V/V)。该条件下发酵32 g/L糖浓度的玉米秸秆水解液,丁醇和总溶剂产量分别为3.28 g/L和4.72 g/L,比对照分别提高958.1%和742.9%。以D301树脂脱毒后5%总糖浓度的玉米秸秆水解液进行丁醇萃取发酵,丁醇和总溶剂产量分别达到10.34 g/L和14.72 g/L,发酵得率为0.31 g/g,与混合糖发酵结果相当。研究结果表明萃取发酵技术能够显著提高原料的利用率和丁醇产量,为纤维丁醇工业化生产提供了技术支撑。     

Acidogenic fermentation of corn stover

Corn stover was fermented by anaerobic acidogenic bacteria to produce volatile (C₂–C₆) organic acids. Mild pretreatment with dilute alkali solutions produced a two-fold increase in fermentability. A mixture of lime and sodium carbonate was found to be a better pretreatment agent than sodium hydroxide. Methane generation was inhibited by low temperature (? 25°C) and high solids [≥ 2.5% (w/v)] fermentation. Volatile acid yields of 0.5–0.55 g acetic acid equiv/g dry ash-free (DAF) stover could be obtained in batch fermentations. Several extractants and extraction solvents for organic acids were found to be nontoxic to acidogenic fermentation. The data show that acidogenic fermentation can produce useful volatile fatty acids in high yields from a complex lignocellulosic feedstock. These fermentations are nonsterile, need no stirring, and are easy to run. Moreover, cellulose, pentosans, and other carbohydrates are directly utilized by acidogenic bacteria. Hence, acidogenic fermentation could be useful in converting biomass to chemical feedstocks and fuel.     

Shock treatment of corn stover

Corn stover digestibility was enhanced via shock treatment. A slurry of lime‐treated corn stover was placed in a partially filled closed vessel. From the ullage space, either a shotgun shell was fired into the slurry, or a gas mixture was detonated. Various conditions were tested (i.e., pressures, depth, solids concentrations, gas mixtures). A high pressurization rate (108,000 MPa/s shotgun shells; 4,160,000 MPa/s hydrogen/oxygen detonation) was the only parameter that improved enzymatic digestibility. Stoichiometric propane/air deflagration had a low pressurization rate (37.2 MPa/s) and did not enhance enzymatic digestibility. Without shock, enzymatic conversion of lime‐treated corn stover was 0.80 g glucan digested/g glucan fed with an enzyme loading of 46.7 mg protein/g glucan. With shock, the enzyme loading was reduced by ～2× while maintaining the same conversion. Detonations are extraordinarily fast; rapidly cycling three small vessels (0.575 m³ each) every 7.5 s enables commercially relevant shock treatment (2,000 tone/day). © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:815–823, 2017