This study compares the biogas potential of solid common reed residues after undergoing vapothermal and hydrothermal pre-treatment, accompanied by a compositional and structural biomass characterization. In a pre-test series, a design of experiments approach was used to determine the influence of the initial biomass water content during vapothermal pre-treatment on the biogas yield. In the main test series, common reed was pre-treated hydrothermally (i.e., in liquid water) and vapothermally (i.e., in saturated steam) while varying temperature and residence time. The initial biomass water content significantly impacted the biogas potential, with an optimum at a value of 32 to 46 wt-%FM. In the main test series, unlike the residence time, temperature significantly impacted the subsequent anaerobic digestion. Vapothermal pre-treatment had a narrow temperature optimum while hydrothermal pre-treatment led to a biogas increase in a broader temperature range. The optimum temperature of both methods was 170 °C, where methane potentials increased by 28 % (vapothermal) and 36 % (hydrothermal) compared to the untreated sample. Considering the mass loss occurring during the pre-treatment, this increase was still 18 % for vapothermal pre-treatment, while it diminished the increase to 6 % for hydrothermal pre-treatment. Overall, vapothermal pre-treatment produced a similar amount of biogas under comparable conditions, but was less susceptible to carbon loss, and, according to an estimation of the required process energy, may offer energy savings compared to hydrothermal pre-treatment.
Sugarcane bagasse pith (SBP), a byproduct of sugar production, is often discarded or burned as waste, despite its potential as a biofuel feedstock. This study explores ozone pretreatment as a processing step to enhance the physicochemical and pelletizing properties of SBP for biofuel production. Ozone pretreatment, conducted in a fixed-bed reactor, selectively reduced lignin content and improved the biomass's binding properties, promoting stronger interparticle adhesion during pelletization. Key variables, including moisture content, die temperature, pressure, and ozonation time, were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD), leading to improved pellet density and mechanical strength. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed enhanced thermal stability and combustion efficiency in ozone-treated SBP pellets. These findings demonstrate that ozone pretreatment is a promising, sustainable approach to valorize SBP and optimize biomass pellet production.
Rational metabolic engineering has numerous applications in the optimization of microorganisms for the production of valuable compounds at the laboratory-scale. However, the existing strategies and tools are far from sufficient for engineering of industrial strains due to their specificity. The aim of this project was to implement novel strategies to enhance industrial l-phenylalanine (l-PHE) production and yield, including the regulation of key gene expressions, modifications of global transcription factors, creation of NADPH-independent pentose phosphate pathway and pyruvate-oxaloacetate-phosphoenolpyruvate cycle. The project also involved the identification and engineering of novel byproduct pathways and the development of a tyrosine-nonauxotrophic strain. Through comprehensive rational engineering, an industrial l-PHE producer, designated PHE17, achieved the highest production (103.15 g/L) and yield (0.229 g/g) of l-PHE reported thus far. This study also represents the first report on the iterative engineering of industrial l-PHE producers, thereby offering great significance for the engineering of other aromatic animo acids-producing strains.
Microbial electrosynthesis of CO2 is a sustainable carbon neutral technology. Although known for its diverse and efficient extracellular electron transfer (EET) characteristics, the bacteria of Shewanella genus have never been reported for use in electrosynthesis of multi-carbon chemicals. Herein, the electricity-powered conversion of CO2 to acetate was achieved under ammonium regulation for the first time in the model strain (Shewanella oneidensis MR-1), due to the activation of its intrinsic reductive glycine pathway. A high electron flux from cathode into MR-1 was achieved through the unique electron uptake pathway mediated by endogenous iron release, biomineralization of iron oxide, and inherent EET pathways. Consequently, MR-1 delivered an acetate production rate of 78.6 ± 4.2mmol m-2 d-1, significantly surpassing those of previously reported electro-autotrophic acetogens under similar operating conditions. Our findings not only provide a novel platform for one-carbon biorefinery, but also prompt recognition to the complexity of EET and CO2 fixation.