Fermentation of rice straw/chicken manure to carboxylic acids using a mixed culture of marine mesophilic micoorganisms

Countercurrent fermentation of rice straw and chicken manure to carboxylic acids was performed using a mixed culture of marine mesophilic microorganisms. To increase the digestibility of the biomass, rice straw, and chicken manure were pretreated with 0.1 g Ca(OH)₂/g biomass. Fermentation was performed for 80% rice straw and 20% chicken manure at various volatile solid loading rates (VSLR) and liquid residence times (LRT). The highest acid productivity of 1.69 g/(L·d) occurred at a total acid concentration of 32.4 g/L. The highest conversion (0.69 g VS digested/g VS fed) and yield (0.29 g total acids/g VS fed) were at a total acid concentration of 25 g/L. A Continuum Particle Distribution Model of the process predicted the experimental total acid concentration and conversion results with an average error of 6.41% and 6.15%, respectively. Results show how total acid concentrations, conversions, and yields vary with VSLR and LRT in the MixAlco process.     

Fermentation of Sugarcane Bagasse and Chicken Manure to Calcium Carboxylates under Thermophilic Conditions

Sugarcane bagasse and chicken manure were anaerobically fermented to carboxylic acids using a mixed culture of marine microorganisms at 55 °C. Using the MixAlco process— an example of consolidated bioprocessing— the resulting carboxylate salts can be converted to mixed alcohol fuels or gasoline. To enhance digestibility, sugarcane bagasse was lime pretreated with 0.1 g Ca(OH)₂/g dry biomass at 100 °C for 2 h. Four-stage countercurrent fermentation of 80% sugarcane bagasse/20% chicken manure was performed at various volatile solids (VS) loading rates and liquid residence times. Calcium carbonate was used as a buffer during fermentation. The highest acid productivity of 0.79 g/(L day) occurred at a total acid concentration of 21.5 g/L. The highest conversion (0.59 g VS digested/g VS fed) and yield (0.18 g total acids/g VS fed) occurred at a total acid concentration of 15.5 g/L. The continuum particle distribution model (CPDM) predicted the experimental total acid concentrations and conversions at an average error of 10.14% and 12.68%, respectively. CPDM optimizations show that high conversion (>80%) and total acid concentration of 21.3 g/L are possible with 300 g substrate/(L liquid), 30 days liquid residence time, and 3 g/(L day) solid loading rate. Thermophilic fermentation has a higher acetate content (∼63 wt%) than mesophilic fermentation (∼39 wt%).     

Conversion of municipal solid wastes to carboxylic acids by thermophilic fermentation

The purpose of this research is to generate carboxylic acids from the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) and municipal sewage sludge (MSS) by using a thermophilic (55°C), anaerobic, high-solid fermentation. With terrestrial inocula, the highest total carboxylic acid concentration achieved was 20.5 g/L, the highest conversion obtained was 69%, and the highest acetic acid selectivity was 86.4%. Marine inocula were also used to compare against terrestrial sources. Continuum particle distribution modeling (CPDM) was used to predict the final acid product concentrations and substrate conversions at a wide range of liquid residence times (LRT) and volatile solid loading rates (VSLR). “Maps” showing the product concentration and conversion for various LRT and VSLR were generated from CPDM. The predictions were compared to the experimental results. On average, the difference between the predicted and experimental values were 13% for acid concentration and 10% for conversion. CPDM “maps” show that marine inocula produce higher concentrations than terrestrial inocula.     

Evaluation of inoculum of Candida guilliermondii grown in presence of glucose on xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase activities and xylitol production during batch fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate

The effect of glucose on xylose-xylitol metabolism in fermentation medium consisting of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate was evaluated by employing an inoculum of Candida guilliermondii grown in synthetic media containing, as carbon sources, glucose (30 g/L), xylose (30 g/L), or a mixture of glucose (2 g/L) and xylose (30 g/L). The inoculum medium containing glucose promoted a 2.5-fold increase in xylose reductase activity (0.582 IU/mg_prot) and a 2-fold increase in xylitol dehydrogenase activity (0.203 IU/mg_prot) when compared with an inoculum-grown medium containing only xylose. The improvement in enzyme activities resulted in higher values of xylitol yield (0.56 g/g) and productivity (0.46 g/[L·h]) after 48 h of fermentation.     

Anaerobic treatment of animal byproducts from slaughterhouses at laboratory and pilot scale

Different mixtures of animal byproducts, other slaughterhouse waste (i.e., rumen, stomach and intestinal content), food waste, and liquid manure were codigested at mesophilic conditions (37°C) at laboratory and pilot scale. Animal byproducts, including blood, represent 70–80% of the total biogas potential from waste generated during slaughter of animals. The total biogas potential from waste generated during slaughter is about 1300 MJ/cattle and about 140 MI/pig. Fed-batch digestion of pasteurized (70°C, 1h) animal byproducts resulted in a fourfold increase in biogas yield (1.14L/g of volatile solids [VS]) compared with nonpasteurized animal bypproducts (0.31L/g of VS). Mixtures with animal byproducts representing 19–38% of the total dry matter were digested in continuous-flow stirred tank reactors at laboratory and pilot scale. Stable processes at organic loading rates (OLRs) exceeding 2.5g of VS/(L·d) and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) less than 40 d could be obtained with total ammonia nitrogen concentrations (NH₄−N+NH₃−N) in the range of 4.0–5.0 g/L. After operating one process for more than 1.5 yr at total ammonia nitrogen concentrations >4 g/L, an increase in OLR to 5 g of VS/(L·d) and a decrease in HRT to 22 d was possible without accumulation of volatile fatty acids.     

Laboratory method for high-solids countercurrent fermentations

Equipment and procedures were developed to study the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to carboxylic acids using high-solids countercurrent fermentations. Countercurrent fermentations of cattle manure yielded a rapid fermentation (maximum 2.98 g of total acid/[L x d]) with high acid concentrations (maximum of 32.5 g of total acid/L), but the acid yield tended to be low (maximum of 0.24 g of total acid/g of volatile solids). Countercurrent fermentations of a mixture of 80% municipal solid waste/20% sewage sludge fermented more slowly (maximum of 1.98 g of total acid/[L x d]) with a lower acid concentration (maximum of 26.5 g of total acids/L), but higher acid yields were achieved (maximum of 0.34 g of total acid/g of volatile solids).     

Continuous production of butanol from starch-based packing peanuts

Acetone, butanol, ethanol (ABE, or solvents) were produced from starch-based packing peanuts in batch and continuous reactors. In a batch reactor, 18.9 g/L of total ABE was produced from 80 g/L packing peanuts in 110 h of fermentation. The initial and final starch concentrations were 69.6 and 11.1 g/L, respectively. In this fermentation, ABE yield and productivity of 0.32 and 0.17 g/(L·h) were obtained, respectively. Compared to the batch fermentation, continuous fermentation of 40 g/L of starch-based packing peanuts in P2 medium resulted in a maximum solvent production of 8.4 g/L at a dilution rate of 0.033 h⁻¹. This resulted in a productivity of 0.27 g/(L·h). However, the reactor was not stable and fermentation deteriorated with time. Continuous fermentation of 35 g/L of starch solution resulted in a similar performance. These studies were performed in a vertical column reactor using Clostridium beijerinckii BA101 and P2 medium. It is anticipated that prolonged exposure of culture to acrylamide, which is formed during boiling/autoclaving of starch, affects the fermentation negatively.     

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of cassava bagasse for l-(+)-lactic acid production using Lactobacilli

Saccharification and fermentation of cassava (Manihot esculenta) bagasse was carried out in a single step for the production of L-(+)-lactic acid by Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Using 15.5% w/v of cassava bagasse as the raw material, a maximum starch to lactic acid conversion of 96% was obtained with L. casei with a productivity rate of 1.40mg/mL·h and maximum yield of 83.8 mg/mL. It was 94% with L. delbrueckii with a productivity rate of 1.36 mg/mL·h. and maximum yeild of 81.9 mg/mL. Supplementation of bagasse with 0.01% w/v MnCl₂ showed positive influence on the lactic acid production by L. casei.     

Alternative approach for utilization of pentose stream from sugarcane bagasse by an induced flocculent Pichia stipitis

A new approach for the utilization of hemicellulosic hydrolysate from sugarcane bagasse is described. This approach consists of using the hydrolysate to dilute the conventional feedstock (sugarcane juice) to the usual sugar concentration (150 g/L) employed for the industrial production of ethanol. The resulting sugar mixture was used as the substrate to evaluate the performance of a continuous reactor incorporating a cell recycle module, operated at several dilution rates. An induced flocculent pentose-fermenting yeast strain was used for this bioconversion. Under the conditions used, the reactor performance was satisfactory at substrate feed rates of 30 g/(L·h) or less, corresponding to an ethanol productivity of about 11.0 g/(L·h) and an overall sugar conversion >95%. These results show real advantages over the existing alternatives for a better exploitation of surplus bagasse to increase industrial alcohol production.     

Continuous production of succinic acid by a fumarate-reducing bacterium immobilized in a hollow-fiber bioreactor

Enterococcus faecalis RKY1, a fumarate-reducing bacterium, was immobilized in an asymmetric hollow-fiber bioreactor (HFBR) for the continuous production of succinic acid. The cells were inoculated into the shell side of the HFBR, which was operated in transverse mode. Since the pH values in the HFBR declined during continuous operation to about 5.7, it was necessary to change the feed pH from 7.0 to 8.0 after 24 h of operation in order to enhance production of succinic acid. During continuous operation with a medium containing fumarate and glycerol, the productivity of succinate was 3.0–10.9 g/(L·h) with an initial concentration of 30 g/L of fumarate, 4.9–14.9 g/(L·h) with 50 g/L of fumarate, and 7.2–17.1 g/(L·h) with 80 g/L of fumarate for dilution rates between 0.1 and 0.4 h⁻¹. The maximum productivity of succinate obtained by the HFBR (17.1 g of succinate /[L·h]) was 1.7 times higher than that of the batch bioconversions (9.9 g of succinate /[L·h]) with 80 g/L of fumarate. Furthermore, the long-term stability of the HFBR was demonstrated with a continuously efficient production of succinate for more than 15 d (360 h).     

Repeated solid-phase fermentation and extraction for enzyme production

Solid-phase fermentation has been found to have a much higher productivity than the popular liquid submerged fermentation in producing cellulase enzymes. The highest reported productivity in the literature for cellulases by Trichoderma cultures in submerged fermentation is 158 filter paper units (FPU)/(h·L) of fermenting liquid. From preliminary experiments of solid-phase fermentation in 1000-m L flasks, a productivity of 234 FPU of cellulases/(h·L) of solid-bed volume was obtained. When two novel techniques—pressure pulsation and repeated extraction—were applied, a productivity of 806 FPU/(h·L) was achieved. The same techniques also greatly enhanced the productivity of other enzymes by fungal cultures in solid-phase fermentation.     

Succinic Acid Production from Cheese Whey using Actinobacillus succinogenes 130 Z

Actinobacillus succinogenes 130 Z was used to produce succinic acid from cheese whey in this study. At the presence of external CO₂ supply, the effects of initial cheese whey concentration, pH, and inoculum size on the succinic acid production were studied. The by-product formation during the fermentation process was also analyzed. The highest succinic acid yield of 0.57 was obtained at initial cheese whey concentration of 50 g/L, while the highest succinic acid productivity of 0.58 g h⁻¹ L⁻¹ was obtained at initial cheese whey concentration of 100 g/L. Increase in pH and inoculum size caused higher succinic acid yield and productivity. At the preferred fermentation condition of pH 6.8, inoculum size of 5% and initial cheese whey concentration of 50 g/L, succinic acid yield of 0.57, and productivity of 0.44 g h⁻¹ L⁻¹ were obtained. Acetic acid and formic acid were the main by-products throughout the fermentation run of 48 h. It is feasible to produce succinic acid using lactose from cheese whey as carbon resource by A. succinogenes 130 Z.     

Anaerobic bioconversion of municipal solid wastes using a novel high-solids reactor design

Novel, laboratory-scale, high-solids reactors operated under mesophilic conditions were used to study the anaerobic fermentation of processed municipal solid waste (MSW) to methane. Product gas rate data were determined for organic loading rates ranging from 2.99–18.46 g of volatile solids (VS) per liter (L) per day (d). The data represent the anaerobic fermentation at high-solids levels within the reactor of 21–32%, while feeding a refuse-derived fuel (RDF)/MSW feedstock supplemented with a vitamin/mineral/nutrient solution. The average biogas yield was 0.59 L biogas/g VS added to the reactor system/d. The average methane composition of the biogas produced was 57.2%. The data indicate a linear relationship of increasing total biogas production with increasing organic loading rate to the process. The maximum organic loading rate obtainable with high-solids anaerobic digestion is in the range of 18–20 g VS/L·d to obtain 80% or greater bioconversion for the RDF/MSW feedstock. This loading rate is approximately four to six times greater than that which can be obtained with comparable low-solids anaerobic bioreactor technology.     

Conversion of municipal solid waste into carboxylic acids by anaerobic countercurrent fermentation

Municipal solid waste (MSW) and sewage sludge (SS) were combined and anaerobically converted into carboxylate salts by using a mixed culture of acid-forming microorganisms. MSW is an energy source and SS is a source of nutrients. In this study, MSW and SS were combined, so they complemented each other. Four fermentors were arranged in series for a countercurrent fermentation process. In this process, the solids and liquid were transferred in opposite directions, with the addition of fresh biomass to fermentor 1 and fresh liquid media to fermentor 4. An intermediate lime treatment of solids exiting fermentor 3 before entering fermentor 4 was applied to improve the product acid concentration from the untreated MSW/SS fermentations. All fermentations were performed under anaerobic conditions at 40°C. Calcium carbonate was added to neutralize the carboxylic acids and to control the pH. Iodoform was used as a methanogen inhibitor. Carboxylic acid concentration and gas composition were determined by gas chromatography. Substrate conversion was measured by volatile solids loss, and carboxylic acid productivity was calculated as the function of the total carboxylic acids produced, the amount of liquid in all fermentors, and time. The addition of intermediate lime treatment increased product concentration and conversion by approx 30 and 15%, respectively. The highest carboxylic acid concentrations for untreated MSW/SS fermentations with and without intermediate lime treatment were 22.2 and 17.7 g of carboxylic acid/L of liquid, respectively. These results confirm that adding a treatment step between fermentor 3 and fermentor 4 will increase the digestibility and acid productivity of the fermentation.     

Biotechnological production of xylitol from agroindustrial residues

Batch, fed-batch, and semicontinuous fermentation processes were used for the production of xylitol from sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate. The best results were achieved by the semicontinuous fermentation process: a xylitol yield of 0.79 g/g with an efficiency of 86% and a volumetric productivity of 0.66 g/L/h.     

Lactic acid production from cellulosic material by synergetic hydrolysis and fermentation

The hydrolysis process on corncob residue was catalyzed synergetically by the cellulase from Trichoderma reesei and the immobilized cellobiase. The feedback inhibition to cellulase reaction caused by the accumulation of cellobiose was eliminated efficiently. The hydrolysis yield of corncob residue was 82.5%, and the percentage of glucose in the reducing sugar reached 88.2%. The glucose in the cellulosic hydrolysate could be converted into lactic acid effectively by the immobilized cells of Lactobacillus delbrueckii. When the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and the fermentation of lactic acid were coupled together, no glucose was accumulated in the reaction system, and the feedback inhibition caused by glucose was also eliminated. Under the batch process of synergetic hydrolysis and lactic acid fermentation with 100 g/L of cellulosic substrate, the conversion efficiency of lactic acid from cellulose and the productivity of lactic acid reached 92.4% and 0.938 g/(L·h), respectively. By using a fed-batch technique, the total concentration of cellulosic substrate and lactic acid in the synergetic process increased to 200 and 107.5 g/L, respectively, whereas the dosage of cellulase reduced from 20 to 15 IU/g of substrate in the batch process. The results of the bioconversion of renewable cellulosic resources were significant.     

Fermentation performance assessment of a genomically integrated xylose-utilizing recombinant of Zymomonas mobilis 39676

In pH-controlled batch fermentations with pure sugar synthetic hardwood hemicellulose (1% [w/v] glucose and 4% xylose) and corn stover hydrolysate (8% glucose and 3.5% xylose) lacking acetic acid, the xyloseutilizing, tetracycline (Tc)-sensitive, genomically integrated variant of Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 39676 (designated strain C25) exhibited growth and fermentation performance that was inferior to National Renewable Energy Laboratory's first-generation, Tc-resistant, plasmid-bearing Zymomonas recombinants. With C25, xylose fermentation following glucose exhaustion wasmarkellyslower, and the ethanol yield (based on sugars consumed) was lower, owing primarily to an increase in lactic acid formation. There was an apparent increased sensitivity to acetic acid inhibition with C25 compared with recombinants 39676:pZB4L, CP4:pZB5, and ZM4:pZB5. However, strain C25 performed well in continous ferm entation with nutrient-rich synthetic corn stover medium over the dilution range 0.03–0.06/h, with a maximum provess ethanol yield at D=0.03/h of 0.46 g/g and a maximum ethanol productivity of 3 g/(L·h). With 0.35% (w/v) acetic acid in the medium, the process yield at D=0.04/h dropped to 0.32 g/g, and the maximum productivity decreased by 50% to 1.5 g/(L·h). Under the same operating conditions, rec Zm Zm 4:pZB5 performed better; however, the medium contained 20 mg/L of Tc to constantly maintain selective pressure. The absence of any need for antibiotics and antiboitic resistance genes makes the chromosomal integrant C25 more com patible with current regulatory specifications for biocatalysts in large-scale commercial operations.     

Application of factorial design to the study of xylitol production from eucalyptus hemicellulosic hydrolysate

This study deals with the bioconversion of xylose into xylitol by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 using eucalyptus hemicellulosic hydrolysate obtained by acid hydrolysis. The influence of various parameters (ammonium sulfate, rice bran, pH, and xylose concentration) on the production of xylitol was evaluated. The experiments were based on multivariate statistical concepts, with the application of factorial design techniques to identify the most important variables in the process. The levels of these variables were quantified by the response surface methodology, which permitted the establishment of a significant mathematical model with a coefficient determination of R ²=0.92. The best results (xylitol=10.0 g/L, yield factor=0.2 g/g, and productivity=0.1 g/[L·h]) were attained with hydrolysate containing ammonium sulfate (1.1 g/L), rice bran (5.0 g/L), and xylose (initial concentration of 60.0 g/L), after 72 h of fermentation. The pH of fermentation was adjusted to 8.0 and the inoculum level utilized was 3 g/L.     

Xylose reductase activity of Candida guilliermondii during xylitol production by fed-batch fermentation

Xylose reductase activity of Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated during xylitol production by fed-batch fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate. A 2^4-1 fractional factorial design was used to select process variables. The xylose concentrations in the feeding solution (S _F ) and in the fermentor (S ₀), the pH, and the aeration rate were selected for optimization of this process, which will be undertaken in the near future. The best experimental result was achieved at S _F =45 g/L, S ₀=40 g/L, pH controlled at 6.0, and aeration rate of 1.2 vvm. Under these conditions, the xylose reductase activity was 0.81 U/mg of protein and xylitol production was 26.3 g/L, corresponding to a volumetric productivity of 0.55 g/(L·h) and a xylose xylitol yield factor of 0.68 g/g.