Fed-batch SSCF using steam-exploded wheat straw at high dry matter consistencies and a xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain: effect of laccase supplementation
Journal article, 2013

Lignocellulosic bioethanol is expected to play an important role in fossil fuel replacement in the short term. Process integration, improvements in water economy, and increased ethanol titers are key considerations for cost-effective large-scale production. The use of whole steam-pretreated slurries under high dry matter (DM) conditions and conversion of all fermentable sugars offer promising alternatives to achieve these goals. Wheat straw slurry obtained from steam explosion showed high concentrations of degradation compounds, hindering the fermentation performance of the evolved xylose-recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae KE6-12 strain. Fermentability tests using the liquid fraction showed a higher number of colony-forming units (CFU) and higher xylose consumption rates when treating the medium with laccase. During batch simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) processes, cell growth was totally inhibited at 12% DM (w/v) in untreated slurries. However, under these conditions laccase treatment prior to addition of yeast reduced the total phenolic content of the slurry and enabled the fermentation. During this process, an ethanol concentration of 19 g/L was obtained, corresponding to an ethanol yield of 39% of the theoretical yield. By changing the operation from batch mode to fed-batch mode, the concentration of inhibitors at the start of the process was reduced and 8 g/L of ethanol were obtained in untreated slurries with a final consistency of 16% DM (w/v). When fed-batch SSCF medium was supplemented with laccase 33 hours after yeast inoculation, no effect on ethanol yield or cell viability was found compared to untreated fermentations. However, if the laccase supplementation (21 hours after yeast inoculation) took place before the first addition of substrate (at 25 hours), improved cell viability and an increased ethanol titer of up to 32 g/L (51% of the theoretical) were found. Laccase treatment in SSCF processes reduces the inhibitory effect that degradation compounds have on the fermenting microorganism. Furthermore, in combination with fed-batch operational mode, laccase supplementation allows the fermentation of wheat straw slurry at high DM consistencies, improving final ethanol concentrations and yields.

In situ laccase detoxification

Bioethanol

Lignocellulose

Simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation

Xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Steam explosion

Author

David Moreno

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Industrial biotechnology

Elia Tomas-Pejo

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Industrial biotechnology

D. Ibarra

Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria

M. Ballesteros

Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (Ciemat)

Lisbeth Olsson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Industrial biotechnology

Biotechnology for Biofuels

17546834 (ISSN) 1754-6834 (eISSN)

Vol. 6 1 article nr. 160- 160

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Energy

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

Subject Categories

Chemical Sciences

DOI

10.1186/1754-6834-6-160

More information

Latest update

9/6/2018 1