Evaluation of steam explosion pretreatment on the cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) yield from poplar wood

The high sulfuric acid concentration used in the hydrolysis of cellulose to isolate cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) leads to low yields due to the dissolution of both amorphous and semi-crystalline cellulose. The present study explored the use of steam explosion pretreatment before acid hydrolysis to enhance the crystallization of semi-crystalline/ non-crystalline cellulose and generating new CNC precursors with poplar wood as feedstock. The crystallinity of steam exploded poplar wood increased 1.3-fold compared to untreated poplar wood. Consequently, the overall yield of CNCs of steam exploded poplar wood increased 2.5-fold compared to untreated poplar wood. Moreover, the steam explosion pretreatment did not affect the quality of the CNCs with regard to the crystal size, crystallinity, and colloidal stability. Whereas the thermal stability of the CNCs increased due to the steam explosion pretreatment. This study demonstrates a simple and scalable pretreatment step that can significantly improve the CNCs yield from the acid hydrolysis step thereby improving the overall economics and commercial viability.

Adapted feeding strategies in fed-batch fermentation improve sugar delivery and ethanol productivity

Bioethanol is a renewable fuel widely used in road transportation and is generally regarded as a clean energy source. Although fermentation is one of the major processes in bioethanol production, studies on improving its efficiency through operational design are limited, especially compared to other steps (pretreatment and hydrolysis/saccharification). In this study, two adapted feeding strategies, in which feed medium addition (sugar delivery) was adjusted to increase the supply of fermentable sugar, were developed to improve ethanol productivity in 5-L fed-batch fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Specifically, a linear adapted feeding strategy was established based on changes in cell biomass, and an exponential adapted feeding strategy was developed based on cell biomass accumulation. By implementing these two feeding strategies, the overall ethanol productivity reached 0.88± 0.04 and 0.87± 0.06 g/L/h, respectively. This corresponded to ~20% increases in ethanol productivity compared to fixed pulsed feeding operations. Additionally, there was no residual glucose at the end of fermentation, and final ethanol content reached 95± 3 g/L under the linear adapted operation and 104± 3 g/L under the exponential adapted feeding strategy. No statistical difference was observed in the overall ethanol yield (ethanol-to-sugar ratio) between fixed and adapted feeding strategies (~91%). These results demonstrate that sugar delivery controlled by adapted feeding strategies was more efficient than fixed feeding operations, leading to higher ethanol productivity. Overall, this study provides novel adapted feeding strategies to improve sugar delivery and ethanol productivity. Integration into the current practices of the ethanol industry could improve productivity and reduce production costs of fermentation processes.

Valorization strategies for hazardous proteinaceous waste from rendering production - Recent advances in specified risk materials (SRMs) conversion

Strict bans on specific risk materials (SRMs) are in place to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). SRMs are characterized as tissues in cattle where misfolded proteins, the potential source of BSE infection, are concentrated. As a result of these bans, SRMs must be strictly isolated and disposed of, resulting in great costs for rendering companies. The increasing yield and the landfill of SRMs also exacerbated the burden on the environment. To cope with the emergence of SRMs, novel disposal methods and feasible value-added conversion routes are needed. The focus of this review is on the valorization progress achieved in the conversion of peptides derived from SRMs via an alternative disposal method, thermal hydrolysis. Promising value-added conversion of SRM-derived peptides into tackifiers, wood adhesives, flocculants, and bioplastics, is introduced. The potential conjugation strategies that can be adapted to SRM-derived peptides for desired properties are also critically reviewed. The purpose of this review is to discover a technical platform through which other hazardous proteinaceous waste, SRMs, can be treated as a high-demand feedstock for the production of renewable materials.

Current progress in lipid-based biofuels: Feedstocks and production technologies

The expanding use of fossil fuels has caused concern in terms of both energy security and environmental issues. Therefore, attempts have been made worldwide to promote the development of renewable energy sources, among which biofuel is especially attractive. Compared to other biofuels, lipid-derived biofuels have a higher energy density and better compatibility with existing infrastructure, and their performance can be readily improved by adjusting the chemical composition of lipid feedstocks. This review thus addresses the intrinsic interactions between lipid feedstocks and lipid-based biofuels, including biodiesel, and renewable equivalents to conventional gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Advancements in lipid-associated biofuel technology, as well as the properties and applicability of various lipid sources in terms of biofuel production, are also discussed. Furthermore, current progress in lipid production and profile optimization in the context of plant lipids, microbial lipids, and animal fats are presented to provide a wider context of lipid-based biofuel technology.

Ruminant-Waste Protein Hydrolysates and Their Derivatives as a Bio-Flocculant for Oil Sands Tailing Management

Reclamation of tailings ponds is a critical issue for the oil industry. After years of consolidation, the slurry in tailings ponds, also known as fluid fine tailings, is mainly comprised of residual bitumen, water, and fine clay particles. To reclaim the lands that these ponds occupy, separation of the solid particles from the liquid phase is necessary to facilitate water removal and recycling. Traditionally, synthetic polymers have been used as flocculants to facilitate this process, but they can have negative environmental consequences. The use of biological polymers may provide a more environmentally friendly approach to flocculation, and eventual soil remediation, due to their natural biodegradability. Peptides derived from specified risk materials (SRM), a proteinaceous waste stream derived from the rendering industry, were investigated to assess their viability for this application. While these peptides could achieve >50% settling within 3 h in bench-scale settling tests using kaolinite tailings, crosslinking peptides with glutaraldehyde greatly improved their flocculation performance, leading to a >50% settling in only 10 min. Settling experiments using materials obtained through different reactant ratios during crosslinking identified a local optimum molar reactant ratio of 1:32 (peptide amino groups to glutaraldehyde aldehyde groups), resulting in 81.6% settling after 48 h. Taken together, these data highlight the novelty of crosslinking waste-derived peptides with glutaraldehyde to generate a value-added bioflocculant with potential for tailings ponds consolidation.

Co-production of ethanol and cellulose nanocrystals through self-cycling fermentation of wood pulp hydrolysate

A promising approach to help offset production costs for the cellulosic ethanol industry is to improve ethanol productivity while simultaneously generating value-added by-products. This study reports integration of an advanced fermentation approach (self-cycling fermentation) with the production of cellulose nanocrystals. Specifically, wood pulp was enzymatically hydrolyzed to yield dissolved sugars, which were fed to a self-cycling fermentation system for ethanol production, and residual solids were used for cellulose nanocrystals production via acid hydrolysis. Self-cycling fermentation achieved stable ethanol production for 10 cycles with significantly greater productivity than batch operation: ethanol volumetric productivity increased by 63-95% and annual ethanol productivity by 96 ± 5%. Additionally, the enzyme hydrolysis approach employed did not impede ethanol fermentation, and the cellulose nanocrystals generated displayed properties consistent with previous studies. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of this co-production strategy to produce both cellulosic ethanol and cellulose nanocrystals from a single feedstock.

Using Specified Risk Materials-Based Peptides for Oil Sands Fluid Fine Tailings Management

Fluid fine tailings are produced in huge quantities by Canada's mined oil sands industry. Due to the high colloidal stability of the contained fine solids, settling of fluid fine tailings can take hundreds of years, making the entrapped water unavailable and posing challenges to public health and the environment. This study focuses on developing value-added aggregation agents from specified risk materials (SRM), a waste protein stream from slaughterhouse industries, to achieve an improved separation of fluid fine tailings into free water and solids. Settling results using synthetic kaolinite slurries demonstrated that, though not as effective as hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, a commercial flocculant, the use of SRM-derived peptides enabled a 2-3-fold faster initial settling rate than the blank control. The pH of synthetic kaolinite tailings was observed to be slightly reduced with increasing peptides dosage in the test range (10-50 kg/ton). The experiments on diluted fluid fine tailings (as a representation of real oil sands tailings) demonstrated an optimum peptides dosage of 14 kg/ton, which resulted in a 4-fold faster initial settling rate compared to the untreated tailings. Overall, this study demonstrates the novelty and feasibility of using SRM-peptides to address intractable oil sands fluid tailings.

Pyrolysis of fatty acids derived from hydrolysis of brown grease with biosolids

The escalating generation of biosolids and increasing regulations regarding their safe handling and disposal have created a great environmental challenge. Recently, biosolids have been incorporated into the hydrolysis step of a two-step thermal lipid conversion process to act as water replacement in the production of renewable chemicals and fuels. Here, the hexane extract recovered from hydrolysis of biosolids, lipids from brown grease hydrolyzed using either water (control) or biosolids as a water replacement, was pyrolyzed at 410-450 °C for 2 h. The product distribution and composition were not significantly different when biosolids were used to hydrolyze brown grease instead of water. The liquid product consisted mainly of alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, and cyclic compounds similar to those in petroleum-derived liquid fuels. However, the use of biosolids as a water substitute resulted in a significant increase in sulphur content of the pyrolysate, which will necessitate processes to reduce the sulphur content before or after pyrolysis. Nevertheless, the pathways proposed in this paper are considered as potentially economically viable approaches to not only resolve the issues associated with disposal of biosolids but also to produce renewable hydrocarbons for fuel and chemical applications. Graphical abstract.

The potential of fiber-depleted starch concentrate produced through air currents assisted particle separation of barley flour in bio-ethanol production

Isolation of fiber concentrate enriched in β-glucan from barley flour via air currents assisted particle separation (ACAPS) generates an underutilized by-product stream, starch concentrate. Since barley starch concentrate (BSC) is depleted in soluble fibre, we examined the enzyme requirements for its hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation. Lower doses of a common raw starch hydrolyzing enzyme (STARGEN™ 002) effectively hydrolyzed BSC, achieving similar hydrolysis kinetics to the wheat benchmark. Hydrolysis of BSC did not require further enzyme supplementation, which is required for optimal wheat hydrolysis. This likely resulted from the smaller particle size of BSC relative to wheat feedstocks. Interestingly, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of BSC using a 0.25X dose of STARGEN™ 002 alone enabled efficient ethanol production, though a requirement for phosphorus supplementation was identified. This study proposes a biorefining strategy that supports the generation of a value-added co-product, starch concentrate, while significantly reducing the enzyme requirements for bioethanol production.

A Biorefinery Strategy That Introduces Hydrothermal Treatment Prior to Acid Hydrolysis for Co-generation of Furfural and Cellulose Nanocrystals

Hydrothermal treatment of wood pulp at 150-225°C prior to acid hydrolysis was investigated in the context of isolating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The objective was 2-folds as follows: (a) generating furfural as a value-added co-product; and (b) concentrating and forming new CNC precursors through thermal re-orientation of para-crystalline cellulose chains that will in turn improve CNC recovery and yield. Furfural yields up to 19 and 21% xylan conversion were obtained at 200 and 225°C hydrothermal treatments, respectively. In addition, these hydrothermal treatment conditions increased the crystallinity index of the pulp (77%) to 84 and 80%, respectively. Consequently, the CNC yield from hydrothermally treated wood pulp, when compared to untreated wood pulp, improved by up to 4- and 2-folds, respectively. An efficient acid hydrolysis process with yield improvements can translate to reduced CNC isolation and purification costs and increased production capacity. The qualities of the CNCs in terms of particle size and crystallinity were not affected due to hydrothermal treatment. However, the zeta potential, sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen content of the CNCs were significantly lower at 225°C while carbon composition increased, and dark brown coloration was observed that indicates caramelization. This study demonstrates for the first time a novel biorefinery strategy that introduces hydrothermal treatment prior to acid hydrolysis to co-generate furfural and CNC with improved efficiency.

Microbially-mediated de-watering and consolidation (“Biodensification”) of oil sands mature fine tailings, amended with agri-business by-products

Oil sands surface mining operations in northeastern, Alberta, Canada produce enormous volumes of fluid fine tailings, an aqueous suspension of fine clays, sand, unrecovered bitumen, and diluent hydrocarbons. The tailings are deposited and retained on-site in large settling basins where the colloidal solids sediment and consolidate very slowly by gravity and pore water collects at the surface for re-use. Tailings ‘biodensification’, mediated by indigenous microbes that produce methane and/or carbon dioxide, is a phenomenon observed in situ and in vitro whereby tailings with active anaerobic microbial communities consolidate and de-water faster than predicted by gravitational (self-weighted) consolidation alone. To exploit this phenomenon, we used organic amendments to stimulate endogenous anaerobic tailings microorganisms. Tailings from three different operators were amended with agri-business by-products, placed in 100-mL microcosms and 1.5-L settling columns, and monitored for methanogenesis, pore water recovery, and solids densification. Several amendments increased methane production and accelerated biodensification compared to unamended and negative controls. Hydrolyzed canola, blood meal, bone meal and glycerol generally accelerated biodensification, stimulated methane production and supported growth of methanogens and fermentative microbes. Amendment altered the chemistry of the tailings, generally decreasing pH, increasing conductivity and magnesium, potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate concentrations. Biodensification is a potential engineered technology for accelerating water recovery and reducing the volume of stored oil sands tailings.

Improved bioethanol productivity through gas flow rate-driven self-cycling fermentation

BACKGROUND

The growth of the cellulosic ethanol industry is currently impeded by high production costs. One possible solution is to improve the performance of fermentation itself, which has great potential to improve the economics of the entire production process. Here, we demonstrated significantly improved productivity through application of an advanced fermentation approach, named self-cycling fermentation (SCF), for cellulosic ethanol production.

RESULTS

The flow rate of outlet gas from the fermenter was used as a real-time monitoring parameter to drive the cycling of the ethanol fermentation process. Then, long-term operation of SCF under anaerobic conditions was improved by the addition of ergosterol and fatty acids, which stabilized operation and reduced fermentation time. Finally, an automated SCF system was successfully operated for 21 cycles, with robust behavior and stable ethanol production. SCF maintained similar ethanol titers to batch operation while significantly reducing fermentation and down times. This led to significant improvements in ethanol volumetric productivity (the amount of ethanol produced by a cycle per working volume per cycle time)-ranging from 37.5 to 75.3%, depending on the cycle number, and in annual ethanol productivity (the amount of ethanol that can be produced each year at large scale)-reaching 75.8 ± 2.9%. Improved flocculation, with potential advantages for biomass removal and reduction in downstream costs, was also observed.

CONCLUSION

Our successful demonstration of SCF could help reduce production costs for the cellulosic ethanol industry through improved productivity and automated operation.

Incorporation of Biosolids as Water Replacement in a Two-Step Renewable Hydrocarbon Process: Hydrolysis of Brown Grease with Biosolids

ABSTRACT

The accumulating volumes of biosolids in lagoons worldwide have intensified the need to develop innovative wastewater treatment strategies. Here, we provide proof-of-concept for the incorporation of biosolids into the hydrolysis step of a two-step thermal conversion of lipids for production of renewable hydrocarbons, which can be utilized as renewable fuels. Brown grease was hydrolysed with biosolids or water at 260-280 °C for 60 min at a mass ratio of 1:1 feed to water or biosolids. The feedstock and products were characterized using various analytical techniques to compare the performance of biosolids to water. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in the degree of hydrolysis of brown grease when biosolids was used as water replacement. The fatty acids composition after hydrolysis when biosolids was used as a water replacement also remained largely unchanged. Hydrolysis of brown grease with biosolids could be achieved at pH ranging from 3.3 to 8.9, and at a lower than previously established temperature. Significantly, the rapid settling of solid material in biosolids observed after thermal hydrolysis of brown grease may reduce the necessity of biosolids settling lagoons. Thus, incorporation of biosolids into a lipid hydrolysis-pyrolysis process may simultaneously benefit the biofuel and waste management sectors.

Co-Production of Cellulose Nanocrystals and Fermentable Sugars Assisted by Endoglucanase Treatment of Wood Pulp

In this study, fermentable sugars and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were co-produced from endoglucanase treatment of wood pulp, followed by acid hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed using two endoglucanases differentiated by the presence or absence of a cellulose-binding domain (CBD). The enzyme with an intact CBD gave the higher glucan conversion (up to 14.1 ± 1.2 wt %) and improved the degree of crystallinity of the recovered wood pulp fiber (up to 83.0 ± 1.0%). Thus, this endoglucanase-assisted treatment successfully removed amorphous content from the original cellulosic feedstock. CNC recovery (16.9 ± 0.7 wt %) from the feedstock going into the acid hydrolysis was improved relative to untreated pulp (13.2 ± 0.6 wt %). The mass loss from enzymatic treatment did not cause a decrease in the CNC yield from the starting material. The characteristics of CNCs obtained through acid hydrolysis (with or without enzyme treatment of pulp) were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry as characterization techniques. The CNCs generated through acid hydrolysis of endoglucanase-treated wood pulp displayed comparable properties relative to those generated using untreated pulp. Thus, endoglucanase treatment can enable co-production of CNCs and sugars for biofuel fermentation.

Accelerating settling rates of biosolids lagoons through thermal hydrolysis

Although the improved dewaterability and digestibility of primary biosolids subjected to thermal hydrolysis has been studied for decades, there are a surprisingly small number of studies exploring the use of this thermal treatment for digested biosolids that are typically left to settle in large settling lagoons. This is likely because of the high capital and operating costs associated with thermal hydrolysis, coupled with the limited applications and value of the resulting products. However, due to the anticipated increases in the amount of generated biosolids combined with issues surrounding potential environmental release and the limited availability of land for additional lagoons, other biosolids management strategies are being explored. Here, we show that thermal hydrolysis at 280 °C for 1 h resulted in 78.2 ± 0.8% settling after 2 h. Furthermore, addition of phosphoric acid to lower the pH of the hydrolysate to pH 3 resulted in increased settling rates, but the final volume of unsettled material after 2 h was statistically similar to the thermally hydrolyzed material without pH adjustment (75.7 ± 2.3%). Remarkably, when the pH of the digested biosolids was adjusted to 3 prior to thermal hydrolysis, a settling rate of 87.3 ± 1.1% was observed after just 15 min. Significantly, the dewaterability of thermally hydrolyzed biosolids was measured in our experiments through natural settling, without the use of external mechanics. Taken together, the data presented in this paper demonstrate that high temperature thermal hydrolysis is a promising method for accelerating the settling rates of digested biosolids and may represent a viable alternative to building and maintaining biosolids lagoons.

Characterization of Cellulase-Treated Fibers and Resulting Cellulose Nanocrystals Generated through Acid Hydrolysis

Integrating enzymatic treatment and acid hydrolysis potentially improves the economics of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) production and demonstrates a sustainable cellulosic ethanol co-generation strategy. In this study, the effect of enzymatic treatment on filter paper and wood pulp fibers, and CNCs generated via subsequent acid hydrolysis were assessed. Characterization was performed using a pulp quality monitoring system, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Enzymatic treatment partially reduced fiber length, but caused swelling, indicating simultaneous fragmentation and layer erosion. Preferential hydrolysis of less ordered cellulose by cellulases slightly improved the crystallinity index of filter paper fiber from 86% to 88%, though no change was observed for wood pulp fibre. All CNC colloids were stable with zeta potential values below -39 mV and hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 205 to 294 nm. Furthermore, the temperature for the peak rate of CNC thermal degradation was generally not affected by enzymatic treatment. These findings demonstrate that CNCs of comparable quality can be produced from an enzymatically-mediated acid hydrolysis biorefining strategy that co-generates fermentable sugars for biofuel production.

Utilization of Slaughterhouse Waste in Value-Added Applications: Recent Advances in the Development of Wood Adhesives

Globally, slaughterhouses generate large volumes of animal byproducts. While these byproducts are an important resource of industrial protein that could potentially be utilized in various value-added applications, they are currently either underutilized in high-value applications or being used for production of relatively low-value products such as animal feed and pet food. Furthermore, some of the byproducts of animal slaughtering cannot enter food and feed chains and thus their disposal possesses a serious environmental concern. An innovative utilization of the proteinaceous waste generated by slaughterhouses comprises of waste processing to extract proteins, which are then incorporated into industrial processes to produce value-added bio-based products. In this report, we review the current processes for extraction of protein from proteinaceous waste of slaughterhouses, and utilization of the recovered protein in the development of protein-based wood adhesives.

Development of hydrolysed protein-based plywood adhesive from slaughterhouse waste: effect of chemical modification of hydrolysed protein on moisture resistance of formulated adhesives

Specified risk materials (SRM) constitute the proteinaceous waste of slaughterhouses and are currently being disposed off either by incineration or by land filling. Over the last few years, our efforts have focused on developing technology platforms for deployment of this renewable resource for various value-added industrial applications. This report describes a technology for utilization of SRM for the development of an environmentally friendly plywood adhesive with an improved water resistance property. The feedstock (SRM) was first thermally hydrolysed according to a standard protocol, and the hydrolysed protein fragments (peptides) were recovered from the hydrolysate. The recovered peptides were chemically modified through esterification reaction using ethanol, and then chemically crosslinked with polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin to develop a wood adhesive system. Plywood specimens were then developed using the peptides-PAE resin-based adhesive. The effects of crosslinking time, solid content of the adhesive formulation, ratio of peptides and crosslinking agent in the formulation, and curing conditions of specimen preparation on lap shear strength of resulting plywood specimens were systematically evaluated. Despite the hydrophilic nature of hydrolysed protein fragments, the peptides-PAE resin formulations exhibited remarkable water resistance property after curing. Capping of polar carboxyl groups of peptides by converting them to esters further improved the water resistance property of this adhesive system. Under the optimum conditions of adhesive preparation and curing, the ethyl ester derivative of peptides and PAE resin-based formulations resulted in plywood specimens having comparable dry as well as soaked shear strengths to those of commercial phenol formaldehyde resin.

Improving ethanol productivity through self-cycling fermentation of yeast: a proof of concept

BACKGROUND

The cellulosic ethanol industry has developed efficient strategies for converting sugars obtained from various cellulosic feedstocks to bioethanol. However, any further major improvements in ethanol productivity will require development of novel and innovative fermentation strategies that enhance incumbent technologies in a cost-effective manner. The present study investigates the feasibility of applying self-cycling fermentation (SCF) to cellulosic ethanol production to elevate productivity. SCF is a semi-continuous cycling process that employs the following strategy: once the onset of stationary phase is detected, half of the broth volume is automatically harvested and replaced with fresh medium to initiate the next cycle. SCF has been shown to increase product yield and/or productivity in many types of microbial cultivation. To test whether this cycling process could increase productivity during ethanol fermentations, we mimicked the process by manually cycling the fermentation for five cycles in shake flasks, and then compared the results to batch operation.

RESULTS

Mimicking SCF for five cycles resulted in regular patterns with regards to glucose consumption, ethanol titer, pH, and biomass production. Compared to batch fermentation, our cycling strategy displayed improved ethanol volumetric productivity (the titer of ethanol produced in a given cycle per corresponding cycle time) and specific productivity (the amount of ethanol produced per cellular biomass) by 43.1 ± 11.6 and 42.7 ± 9.8%, respectively. Five successive cycles contributed to an improvement of overall productivity (the aggregate amount of ethanol produced at the end of a given cycle per total processing time) and the estimated annual ethanol productivity (the amount of ethanol produced per year) by 64.4 ± 3.3 and 33.1 ± 7.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides proof of concept that applying SCF to ethanol production could significantly increase productivities, which will help strengthen the cellulosic ethanol industry.

Simultaneous hydrolysis and co-fermentation of whey lactose with wheat for ethanol production

Whey permeate was used as a co-substrate to replace part of the wheat for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was achieved with β-galactosidase added at the onset of the fermentation to promote whey lactose hydrolysis. Aspergillus oryzae and Kluyveromyces lactis β-galactosidases were two enzymes selected and used in the co-fermentation of wheat and whey permeate for the comparison of their effectiveness on lactose hydrolysis. The possibility of co-fermentations in both STARGEN and jet cooking systems was investigated in 5L bioreactors. Ethanol yields from the co-fermentations of wheat and whey permeate were evaluated. It was found that A. oryzae β-galactosidase was more efficient for lactose hydrolysis during the co-fermentation and that whey permeate supplementation can contribute to ethanol yield in co-fermentations with wheat.

Surface and thermal enhancement of the cellulosic component of thermo mechanical pulp using a rapid method: Iodomethane modification

The feasibility of employing chemical methods for enhancement of cellulose-based materials is dependent on the availability, price, and green index of the modifying agent. This study details the use of iodomethane, an inexpensive organo halide, to increase the hydrophobicity of thermo mechanical (TMP) samples, which renders them better structural elements for composite materials. For this system, we studied the influence of various concentration of iodomethane, concentration of caustic, and reaction time. Infrared spectroscopy suggested reaction of the organo halide with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose and lignin components of TMP. Pulp samples treated for 4 h or at low caustic concentration showed the least improvements plausibly due to pulp degradation or poor pulp swelling, respectively. On the other hand, pulp treated at 3 h using high concentrations of caustic were characterized with surfaces that were more hydrophobic. Thus, this study outlines a fast and organic solvent-free (clean up) method that can be used to enhance pulp samples for composite applications.

Modification of the cellulosic component of hemp fibers using sulfonic acid derivatives: Surface and thermal characterization

The aim of this study was to characterize the surface, morphological, and thermal properties of hemp fibers treated with two commercially available, inexpensive, and water soluble sulfonic acid derivatives. Specifically, the cellulosic component of the fibers were targeted, because cellulose is not easily removed during chemical treatment. These acids have the potential to selectively transform the surfaces of natural fibers for composite applications. The proposed method proceeds in the absence of conventional organic solvents and high reaction temperatures. Surface chemical composition and signature were measured using gravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). XPS data from the treated hemp fibers were characterized by measuring the reduction in O/C ratio and an increase in abundance of the C-C-O signature. FTIR confirmed the reaction with the emergence of peaks characteristic of disubstituted benzene and amino groups. Grafting of the sulfonic derivatives resulted in lower surface polarity. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that treated fibers were characterized by lower percent degradation between 200 and 300 °C, and a higher initial degradation temperature.

Cultivation of oleaginous yeast using aqueous fractions derived from hydrothermal pretreatments of biomass

This study addresses some of the current challenges in producing biofuels from yeast oils. Specifically, it valorizes byproduct waste streams of biomass processing technologies by integrating them as alternative carbon or nutrient sources in oleaginous yeast cultivation. Crude glycerol recovered from the thermal hydrolysis of various fats and oils was successfully used in culturing of the oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus curvatus, with growth and lipid accumulation occurring at levels identical to those achieved when commercially purchased glycerol was used. The aqueous byproduct stream from the hydrothermal processing of C. curvatus can also be recycled as a growth substrate for subsequent C. curvatus cultures. The addition of this stream promoted higher biomass production without affecting lipid accumulation and only moderately changing the fatty acid profile. Use of these recycling strategies reduces costs and environmental impact of current microbial biofuels production by providing accessible, non-expensive carbon sources and nutrients for oleaginous yeast cultivation.

Two-stage thermal conversion of inedible lipid feedstocks to renewable chemicals and fuels

The aim of this work was to study the conversion of inedible, low cost lipid feedstocks to renewable hydrocarbons using a two stage thermal hydrolysis-pyrolysis method. Beef tallow, yellow grease, brown grease and cold pressed camelina oil were first hydrolyzed and the fatty acids produced were recovered and pyrolyzed in batch reactors. The pyrolysis products were identified and quantified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The pyrolysis product yields were similar for all the feedstock used with the organic liquid fraction (OLF) accounting for 76-80% of the product. The OLF consisted predominantly of n-alkanes. Approximately 30% OLF constituted a gasoline-equivalent fraction and 50% a diesel fraction. Other fuel property test showed that the OLF met the specifications set out by the Canadian general standards board. This research demonstrated a novel two-stage thermal hydrolysis-pyrolysis conversion method for producing OLF from inedible and low-value lipids.

Two-step thermal conversion of oleaginous microalgae into renewable hydrocarbons

The aim of this study was to evaluate the conversion of microalgal biomass to renewable chemicals and fuels through a two-step reaction and separation process. High density Chlorella protothecoides culture with 40% lipid accumulation (dwb) was produced in 10 L bioreactors and hydrolyzed in batch stainless steel reactors under subcritical conditions. After hydrolysis, fatty acids free of sulfur and low in nitrogen and salts, were recovered by hexane extraction. The fatty acids were pyrolyzed at 410°C for 2h under N2 yielding n-alkanes, α-olefins and internal olefins and low molecular weight fatty acids. This study demonstrated the direct conversion of microalgal biomass into valuable platform chemicals and fuels compatible with the existing industrial hydrocarbon infrastructure.

Heterotrophic growth and lipid accumulation of Chlorella protothecoides in whey permeate, a dairy by-product stream, for biofuel production

This study proposes a novel alternative for the utilization of whey permeate, a by-product stream from the dairy industry, as the feedstock for the biomass and lipid production of the microalgae Chlorella protothecoides. Glucose and galactose from the pre-hydrolyzed whey permeate were used as main carbon sources in a base mineral media for establishing batch and fed batch cultures. Batch cultures reached a biomass production of 9.1±0.2g/L with a total lipid accumulation of 42.0±6.6% (dry weight basis), while in the fed batch cultures 17.2±1.3g/L of biomass with 20.5±0.3% lipid accumulation (dry weight basis) were obtained. A third strategy for the direct utilization of whey permeate was investigated by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), wherein, 7.3±1.3g/L of biomass with 49.9±3.3% lipid accumulation (dry weight basis) was obtained in batch mode using immobilized enzyme.

Phenolic acids in some cereal grains and their inhibitory effect on starch liquefaction and saccharification

The presence of phenolic acids in cereal grain is thought to influence starch hydrolysis during liquefaction and saccharification of grain flours in the bioethanol industry. As a basis for remodeling starch hydrolysis systems and understanding inhibition mechanisms, the composition and concentration of phenolic acids in whole grain flours of triticale, wheat, barley, and corn were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The total phenolic acid contents (sum of nine phenolic acids) in the four grains were 1.14, 1.70, 0.90, and 1.25 mg/g, respectively, with more than 90% found in the bound form. Ferulic, coumaric, and protocatechuic acids were the major phenolic acids in triticale and wheat. Gallic acid was also rich in triticale. Ferulic, coumaric, hydroxybenzoic, and gallic acids were predominant in barley. In corn, ferulic, coumaric, gallic, and syringic acids were abundant. On the basis of these profiles, pure phenolic acids were added individually and collectively to isolated starches at amounts either equivalent to or 3 times those in the whole grains for hydrolysis. The degree of starch hydrolysis with α-amylase and amyloglucosidase decreased up to 8% when individual phenolic acids were present in cooked starch slurry. The decreases were more pronounced when phenolic acids were added collectively (4-5% with α-amylase and 9-13% with sequential α-amylase and amyloglucosidase). The study of a phenolic acid-starch-enzyme model system indicated that the interactions of phenolic acid-enzyme and phenolic acid-starch significantly contributed to the inhibitory effect of starch hydrolysis. Heating facilitated the interactions. Phenolic acids thus play a significant role in the resistance of starch to enzyme and/or the loss of enzyme activity during starch hydrolysis.

Evaluation of value-added components of dried distiller's grain with solubles from triticale and wheat

This study focused on the detection of value-added co-products in dried distiller's grain plus soluble (DDGS), a possibility that could open new avenues for further processing and marketing of DDGS and improving economic sustainability of ethanol industry. Varieties of triticale, wheat and two benchmarks, CPS wheat and Pioneer Hi-Bred corn, were fermented using two very high gravity (VHG) fermentation approaches: jet-cooking and raw starch processing (STARGEN fermentation). DDGS from STARGEN fermentation could be promising sources of value-added co-products. Pronghorn triticale DDGS (STARGEN fermentation) had the highest concentration of sterols (3.7 mg/g), phenolic compounds (13.61 mg GAE/g), and β-glucan (2.07%). CDC Ptarmigan DDGS (STARGEN fermentation) had the highest concentration of tocopherols and tocotrienols (107.0 μg/g), 1.93% of β-glucan, and 53.0mg/g of fatty acids. AC Reed DDGS (STARGEN method) showed 1.97% of β-glucan. This study shows that proper choice of fermentation approach and feedstock for ethanol production could improve commercial quality of DDGS.

Pyrolysis of triglyceride materials for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals

Conversion of vegetable oils and animal fats composed predominantly of triglycerides using pyrolysis type reactions represents a promising option for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. The purpose of this article was to collect and review literature on the thermo-chemical conversion of triglyceride based materials. The literature was divided and discussed as (1) direct thermal cracking and (2) combination of thermal and catalytic cracking. Typically, four main catalyst types are used including transition metal catalysts, molecular sieve type catalysts, activated alumina, and sodium carbonate. Reaction products are heavily dependant on the catalyst type and reaction conditions and can range from diesel like fractions to gasoline like fractions. Research in this area is not as advanced as bio-oil and bio-diesel research and there is opportunity for further study in the areas of reaction optimization, detailed characterization of products and properties, and scale-up.

Ring cleavage of sulfur heterocycles: how does it happen?

Sulfur heterocycles are common constituents of petroleum and liquids derived from coal, and they are found in some secondary metabolites of microorganisms and plants. They exist primarily as saturated rings and thiophenes. There are two major objectives driving investigations of the microbial metabolism of organosulfur compounds. One is the quest to develop a process for biodesulfurization of fossil fuels, and the other is to understand the fates of organosulfur compounds in petroleum- or creosote-contaminated environments which is important in assessing bioremediation processes. For these processes to be successful, cleavage of different types of sulfur heterocyclic rings is paramount. This paper reviews the evidence for microbial ring cleavage of a variety of organosulfur compounds and discusses the few well-studied cases which have shown that the C-S bond is most susceptible to breakage leading to disruption of the ring. In most cases, the introduction of one or more oxygen atom(s) onto the adjacent C atom and/or onto the S atom weakens the C-S bond, facilitating its cleavage. Although much is known about the thiophene ring cleavage in dibenzothiophene, there is still a great deal to be learned about the cleavage of other sulfur heterocycles.

Identification of disulfides from the biodegradation of dibenzothiophene

Several investigations have identified benzothiophene-2,3-dione in the organic solvent extracts of acidified cultures degrading dibenzothiophene via the Kodama pathway. In solution at neutral pH, the 2,3-dione exists as 2-mercaptophenylglyoxylate, which cyclizes upon acidification and is extracted as the 2,3-dione. The fate of these compounds in microbial cultures has never been determined. This study investigated the abiotic reactions of 2-mercaptophenylglyoxylate incubated aerobically in mineral salts medium at neutral pH. Oxidation led to the formation of 2-oxo-2-(2-thiophenyl)ethanoic acid disulfide, formed from two molecules of 2-mercaptophenylglyoxylate. Two sequential abiotic, net losses of both a carbon and an oxygen atom produced two additional disulfides, 2-oxo-2-(2-thiophenyl)ethanoic acid 2-benzoic acid disulfide and 2,2'-dithiosalicylic acid. The methods developed to extract and detect these three disulfides were then used for the analysis of a culture of Pseudomonas sp. strain BT1d grown on dibenzothiophene as its sole carbon and energy source. All three of the disulfides were detected, indicating that 2-mercaptophenylglyoxylate is an important, short-lived intermediate in the breakdown of dibenzothiophene via the Kodama pathway. The disulfides eluded previous investigations because of (i) their high polarity, being dicarboxylic acids; (ii) the need to lower the pH of the aqueous medium to <1 to extract them into an organic solvent such as dichloromethane; (iii) their poor solubility in organic solvents, (iv) their removal from organic extracts of cultures during filtration through the commonly used drying agent anhydrous sodium sulfate; and (v) their high molecular masses (362, 334, and 306 Da) compared to that of dibenzothiophene (184 Da).

Purification, stability, and mineralization of 3-hydroxy-2- formylbenzothiophene, a metabolite of dibenzothiophene

3-Hydroxy-2-formylbenzothiophene (HFBT) is a metabolite found in many bacterial cultures that degrade dibenzothiophene (DBT) via the Kodama pathway. The fate of HFBT in cultures and in the environment is unknown. In this study, HFBT was produced by a DBT-degrading bacterium and purified by sublimation. When stored in organic solvent or as a crystal, the HFBT slowly decomposed, yielding colored products. Two of these were identified as thioindigo and cis-thioindigo. The supernatant of the DBT-degrading culture contained thioindigo, which has not been reported previously as a product of DBT biodegradation. In mineral salts medium, HFBT was sufficiently stable to allow biodegradation studies with a mixed microbial culture over a 3- to 4-week period. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses showed that HFBT was removed from the medium. 2-Mercaptophenylglyoxalate, detected as benzothiophene-2,3-dione, was found in an HFBT-degrading mixed culture, and the former appears to be a metabolite of HFBT. This mixed culture also mineralized HFBT to CO2.

Bacterial metabolism of fluorene, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, and carbazole

Fluorene and its three heteroatomic analogs, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, and carbazole, are environmental contaminants in areas impacted by spills of creosote. In addition, dibenzofuran has been used as an insecticide, and it is formed from the photolysis of chlorinated biphenyl ethers. Many biodegradation studies of dibenzofuran have considered it as a model for chlorinated dibenzofurans, which are of greater environmental concern. This paper reviews the bacterial degradation of fluorene and its analogs. These compounds are susceptible to three different modes of initial oxidation: (i) the naphthalene-like attack, in which one of the aromatic rings is oxidized to a dihydrodiol; (ii) an angular dioxygenase attack, in which the carbon bonded to the methylene group in fluorene or to the heteroatoms in the analogs, and the adjacent carbon in the aromatic ring are both oxidized; and (iii) the five-membered ring attack, in which the methylene carbon atom in fluorene or the sulfur atom in dibenzothiophene is oxidized. The metabolites, enzymology, and genetics of these transformation are summarized. Literature data are presented, indicating that the electronegativity of the atom connecting the two aromatic rings influences the attack of the angular dioxygenase. In dibenzofuran and carbazole, the connecting atoms, O and N respectively, have high electronegativities, and these compounds serve as substrates for angular dioxygenases. In contrast, the connecting atoms in dibenzothiophene and fluorene, S and C respectively, have lower electronegativities, and these atoms must be oxidized before the angular dioxygenases attack these compounds.

Bacterial metabolism of fluorene, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, and carbazole

Fluorene and its three heteroatomic analogs, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, and carbazole, are environmental contaminants in areas impacted by spills of creosote. In addition, dibenzofuran has been used as an insecticide, and it is formed from the photolysis of chlorinated biphenyl ethers. Many biodegradation studies of dibenzofuran have considered it as a model for chlorinated dibenzofurans, which are of greater environmental concern. This paper reviews the bacterial degradation of fluorene and its analogs. These compounds are susceptible to three different modes of initial oxidation: (i) the naphthalene-like attack, in which one of the aromatic rings is oxidized to a dihydrodiol; (ii) an angular dioxygenase attack, in which the carbon bonded to the methylene group in fluorene or to the heteroatoms in the analogs, and the adjacent carbon in the aromatic ring are both oxidized; and (iii) the five-membered ring attack, in which the methylene carbon atom in fluorene or the sulfur atom in dibenzothiophene is oxidized. The metabolites, enzymology, and genetics of these transformation are summarized. Literature data are presented, indicating that the electronegativity of the atom connecting the two aromatic rings influences the attack of the angular dioxygenase. In dibenzofuran and carbazole, the connecting atoms, O and N respectively, have high electronegativities, and these compounds serve as substrates for angular dioxygenases. In contrast, the connecting atoms in dibenzothiophene and fluorene, S and C respectively, have lower electronegativities, and these atoms must be oxidized before the angular dioxygenases attack these compounds.Key words: angular dioxygenase, carbazole, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, fluorene.

Biodegradation of benzothiophene sulfones by a filamentous bacterium

Previous studies showed that benzothiophene and 3- and 5-methylbenzothiophenes are oxidized by some bacteria to yield their corresponding sulfones, which were not subsequently degraded. In this study, a filamentous bacterium was isolated, which grew on each of these three sulfones as its sole carbon, sulfur, and energy source. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and scanning electron microscopy, the isolate was found to belong to the genus Pseudonocardia and assigned the strain designation DB1. Benzothiophene sulfone and 3-methylbenzothiophene sulfone were more readily biodegraded than 5-methylbenzothiophene sulfone, and growth on these three compounds resulted in the release of 57, 62, and 28% of the substrate carbon as CO2, respectively. The thiophene ring was also cleaved, and between 44 and 88% of the sulfur from the consumed substrate was found as sulfate and (or) sulfite. Strain DB1 grew on benzoate, dibenzothiophene sulfone, and hexadecanoic acid, but it could not grow on benzofuran, dibenzothiophene, dibenzothiophene sulfoxide, hexadecane, indole, naphthalene, phenol, 2-sulfobenzoic acid, sulfolane, benzothiophene, or 3- or 5-methylbenzothiophenes. In addition, it did not oxidize the latter three compounds to their sulfones.Key words: benzothiophene sulfone, biodegradation, mineralization, sulfur heterocycles, Pseudonocardia.