Biobutanol production from underutilized substrates using Clostridium: Unlocking untapped potential for sustainable energy development

The increasing demand for sustainable energy has brought biobutanol as a potential substitute for fossil fuels. The Clostridium genus is deemed essential for biobutanol synthesis due to its capability to utilize various substrates. However, challenges in maintaining fermentation continuity and achieving commercialization persist due to existing barriers, including butanol toxicity to Clostridium, low substrate utilization rates, and high production costs. Proper substrate selection significantly impacts fermentation efficiency, final product quality, and economic feasibility in Clostridium biobutanol production. This review examines underutilized substrates for biobutanol production by Clostridium, which offer opportunities for environmental sustainability and a green economy. Extensive research on Clostridium, focusing on strain development and genetic engineering, is essential to enhance biobutanol production. Additionally, critical suggestions for optimizing substrate selection to enhance Clostridium biobutanol production efficiency are also provided in this review. In the future, cost reduction and advancements in biotechnology may make biobutanol a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Solvent-Producing Clostridia Revisited

The review provides an overview of the current status of the solvent-producing clostridia. The origin and development of industrial clostridial species, as well as the history of the industrial Acetone Butanol Ethanol fermentation process, is reexamined, and the recent resurgence of interest in the production of biobutanol is reviewed. Over 300 fully sequenced genomes for solvent-producing and closely related clostridial species are currently available in public databases. These include 270 genomes sourced from the David Jones culture collection. These genomes were allocated arbitrary DJ codes, and a conversion table to identify the species and strains has now been provided. The expanded genomic database facilitated new comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis. A synopsis of the common features, molecular taxonomy, and phylogeny of solvent-producing clostridia and the application of comparative phylogenomics are evaluated. A survey and analysis of resident prophages in solvent-producing clostridia are discussed, and the discovery, occurrence, and role of novel R-type tailocins are reported. Prophage genomes with R-type tailocin-like features were detected in all 12 species investigated. The widespread occurrence of tailocins in Gram-negative species is well documented; this survey has indicated that they may also be widespread in clostridia.

Upgrading bio-based acetone to diacetone alcohol by aldol reaction using Amberlyst A26-OH as catalyst

The aldol reaction of bio acetone in presence of a strongly basic ion exchange resin was carried out with and without the addition of water in a temperature range between − 30 °C and 45 °C. The conversion, selectivity and service time of the ion exchange resins were investigated in a stirred batch reactor and a continuous fixed bed reactor. For the batch experiments, both conversion and selectivity increased with decreasing temperature. Furthermore, the addition of water to the reaction medium has a positive effect on selectivity and catalyst service time of the resins. For the continuous flow experiments carried out in a fixed bed reactor, the selectivity towards diacetone alcohol is higher than in a batch reactor. This high selectivity is favored by a short contact time which inhibits as expected most of the consecutive reactions.

Sporulation in solventogenic and acetogenic clostridia

The Clostridium genus harbors compelling organisms for biotechnological production processes; while acetogenic clostridia can fix C1-compounds to produce acetate and ethanol, solventogenic clostridia can utilize a wide range of carbon sources to produce commercially valuable carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones by fermentation. Despite their potential, the conversion by these bacteria of carbohydrates or C1 compounds to alcohols is not cost-effective enough to result in economically viable processes. Engineering solventogenic clostridia by impairing sporulation is one of the investigated approaches to improve solvent productivity. Sporulation is a cell differentiation process triggered in bacteria in response to exposure to environmental stressors. The generated spores are metabolically inactive but resistant to harsh conditions (UV, chemicals, heat, oxygen). In Firmicutes, sporulation has been mainly studied in bacilli and pathogenic clostridia, and our knowledge of sporulation in solvent-producing or acetogenic clostridia is limited. Still, sporulation is an integral part of the cellular physiology of clostridia; thus, understanding the regulation of sporulation and its connection to solvent production may give clues to improve the performance of solventogenic clostridia. This review aims to provide an overview of the triggers, characteristics, and regulatory mechanism of sporulation in solventogenic clostridia. Those are further compared to the current knowledge on sporulation in the industrially relevant acetogenic clostridia. Finally, the potential applications of spores for process improvement are discussed.Key Points• The regulatory network governing sporulation initiation varies in solventogenic clostridia.• Media composition and cell density are the main triggers of sporulation.• Spores can be used to improve the fermentation process.

Draft Genome Sequence of Clostridium beijerinckii Strain mbf-VZ-132, Isolated from an Environmental Soil Sample

Clostridium beijerinckii strain mbf-VZ-132 was isolated from soil in Freising-Weihenstephan (Bavaria, Germany). The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed a 99.9% sequence identity to Clostridium diolis DSM 15410, which was recently reclassified as C. beijerinckii. In this study, we present the draft genome sequence of C. beijerinckii mbf-VZ-132, based on PacBio sequencing.

Clostridium beijerinckii strain mbf-VZ-132 was isolated from soil in Freising-Weihenstephan (Bavaria, Germany). The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed a 99.9% sequence identity to that of Clostridium diolis DSM 15410, which was recently reclassified as C. beijerinckii. In this study, we present the draft genome sequence of C. beijerinckii mbf-VZ-132 based on PacBio sequencing.

Structural-Genetic Characterization Of Novel Butaryl co-A Dehydrogenase and Proposition of Butanol Biosynthesis Pathway in Pusillimonas ginsengisoli SBSA

Despite extensive use in the biofuel industry, only butyryl co-A dehydrogenase enzymes from the Clostridia group have undergone extensive structural and genetic characterization. The present study, portrays the characterization of structural, functional and phylogenetic properties of butyryl co-A dehydrogenase identified within the genome of Pusillimonas ginsengisoli SBSA. In silico characterization, homology modelling and docking data indicates that this protein is a homo-tetramer and 388 amino acid residue long, rich in alanine and leucine residue; having molecular weight of 42347.69 dalton. Its isoelectric point value is 5.78; indicate its neutral nature while 38.38 instability index value indicate its stable nature. Its thermostable nature evidenced by its high aliphatic index (93.14); makes its suitable for industry-based use. The secondary structure prediction analysis of butyryl co-A dehydrogenase unveiled that the proteins has secondary arrangements of 54% α-helix, 13% β-stand and 5% disordered conformation. However, phylogenetic analysis clearly indicates that probably horizontal gene transfer is the primary mechanism of spreading of this gene in this organism. Notably, multiple sequence alignment study of phylogenetically diverse butyryl co-A dehydrogenase sequence highlighted the presence of conserved amino acid residues i.e. YXV/LGXKXWXS/T. Physicochemical characterization of other relevant proteins involved in butanol metabolism of SBSA also has been carried out. However, metabolic construction of functional butanol biosynthesis pathway in SBSA, enlightened its cost-effective potential use in biofuel industry as an alternate to Clostridia system.

Milling byproducts are an economically viable substrate for butanol production using clostridial ABE fermentation

Butanol is a platform chemical that is utilized in a wide range of industrial products and is considered a suitable replacement or additive to liquid fuels. So far, it is mainly produced through petrochemical routes. Alternative production routes, for example through biorefinery, are under investigation but are currently not at a market competitive level. Possible alternatives, such as acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation by solventogenic clostridia are not market-ready to this day either, because of their low butanol titer and the high costs of feedstocks. Here, we analyzed wheat middlings and wheat red dog, two wheat milling byproducts available in large quantities, as substrates for clostridial ABE fermentation. We could identify ten strains that exhibited good butanol yields on wheat red dog. Two of the best ABE producing strains, Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 and Clostridium diolis DSM 15410, were used to optimize a laboratory-scale fermentation process. In addition, enzymatic pretreatment of both milling byproducts significantly enhanced ABE production rates of the strains C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 and C. diolis DSM 15410. Finally, a profitability analysis was performed for small- to mid-scale ABE fermentation plants that utilize enzymatically pretreated wheat red dog as substrate. The estimations show that such a plant could be commercially successful.Key points• Wheat milling byproducts are suitable substrates for clostridial ABE fermentation.• Enzymatic pretreatment of wheat red dog and middlings increases ABE yield.• ABE fermentation plants using wheat red dog as substrate are economically viable. Graphical abstract.

Recovery of slaughterhouse Animal Fatty Wastewater Sludge by conversion into Fatty Acid Butyl Esters by acid-catalyzed esterification

Two types of Animal Fatty Wastewater Sludges (AFWS 1 and 2) were analyzed and fully characterized to determine their suitability for conversion into biofuel. AFWS 1 was determined to be unsuitable as it contains 68.8wt.% water and only 32.3wt.% dry material, of which only around 80% is lipids to be converted. AFWS 2 has only 15.7wt.% water and 84.3wt.% dry material of which is assumed to 100% lipids as the protein and ash contents were determined to be negligible. The 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) catalyzed esterification of AFWS with 1-butanol was performed in a novel batch reactor fitted with a drying chimney for the "in situ" removal of water and optimized using a non-conventional Doehlert surface response methodology. The optimized condition was found to be 1.66mol equivalent of 1-butanol (with respect to total fatty acid chains), 10wt.% of DBSA catalyst (with respect to AFWS) at 105°C for 3h. Fatty Acid Butyl Esters (FABEs) were isolated in good yields (95%+) as well as a blend of FABEs with 1-butanol (16%). The two potential biofuels were analyzed in comparison with current and analogous biofuels (FAME based biodiesel, and FABE products made from vegetable oils) and were found to exhibit high cetane numbers and flash point values.

Improving isopropanol tolerance and production of Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6423 by random mutagenesis and genome shuffling

Random mutagenesis and genome shuffling was applied to improve solvent tolerance and isopropanol/butanol/ethanol (IBE) production in the strictly anaerobic bacteria Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6423. Following chemical mutagenesis with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG), screening of putatively improved strains was done by submitting the mutants to toxic levels of inhibitory chemicals or by screening for their tolerance to isopropanol (>35 g/L). Suicide substrates, such as ethyl or methyl bromobutyrate or alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors like allyl alcohol, were tested and, finally, 36 mutants were isolated. The fermentation profiles of these NTG mutant strains were characterized, and the best performing mutants were used for consecutive rounds of genome shuffling. Screening of strains with further enhancement in isopropanol tolerance at each recursive shuffling step was then used to spot additionally improved strains. Three highly tolerant strains were finally isolated and able to withstand up to 50 g/L isopropanol on plates. Even if increased tolerance to the desired end product was not always accompanied by higher production capabilities, some shuffled strains showed increased solvent titers compared to the parental strains and the original C. beijerinckii DSM 6423. This study confirms the efficiency of genome shuffling to generate improved strains toward a desired phenotype such as alcohol tolerance. This tool also offers the possibility of obtaining improved strains of Clostridium species for which targeted genetic engineering approaches have not been described yet.