Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology最新文献

The expanding field of synthetic biology requires diversification of microbial chassis to expedite the transition from a fossil fuel-dependent economy to a sustainable bioeconomy. Relying exclusively on established model organisms such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae may not suffice to drive the profound advancements needed in biotechnology. In this context, Cupriavidus necator, an extraordinarily versatile microorganism, has emerged as a potential catalyst for transformative breakthroughs in industrial biomanufacturing. This comprehensive book chapter offers an in-depth review of the remarkable technological progress achieved by C. necator in the past decade, with a specific focus on the fields of molecular biology tools, metabolic engineering, and innovative fermentation strategies. Through this exploration, we aim to shed light on the pivotal role of C. necator in shaping the future of sustainable bioprocessing and bioproduct development.

Cable bacteria grow as multicellular filaments several centimetres deep into the sediment of freshwaters and oceans. Hereby, cable bacteria show unique characteristics such as electrogenic sulphur oxidation, extremely high conductivity and ability for CO₂ fixation. This offers several possibilities of future applications in biotechnology with an outlook to sustainable processes. So far, research on cable bacteria is mostly concerning metabolism, electron transfer and effect on the surrounding sediment. Cultures are always performed on sediment from the natural habitat and in simple, small-scale reaction tubes, requiring further development for reproducible cultivation with scale-up capabilities. However, based on the known properties of cable bacteria, possible areas of application can already be derived. The use of cable bacteria in bioremediation is a promising approach, as the degradation of hydrocarbons has already been proven. Co-cultivation with plants could open up a further field of application, such as the described reduction of methane emissions from rice fields. Due to the extremely high conductivity of the filaments, cable bacteria are also very promising for incorporation into biodegradable microelectronics. By integrating electrodes into a suitable reactor system, bioelectrochemical processes could be implemented, either with the goal of electron uptake and product formation or for electricity generation.

In the research of mixed microbial cultures, the numbers and identifications of individual strains are often only partially unknown. Their metabolic capabilities are also not wholly predictable especially if the joint potential is to be understood. In these kinds of situations, deeper insight into the variable microbial communities cannot be obtained by genetic analysis only. Even more critical than the taxonomic aspect is usually the functional metabolic outcome of the mixed flora in question. The results from such studies as NMR (nucleic magnetic resonance) give a precise view from versatile angles into the biochemical activities during the multiparametric metabolic responses of the microflora as a whole.Originally, metabonomics was mainly used for the pathophysiological research of various microbes or for recording the genetic or biochemical modifications of mixed microflora. This approach offers a tool for monitoring changes in microscopic or otherwise confined ecosystems or at multiple locations from which representative specimens are difficult to obtain. It also offers repeatability in various processes. In microbiological studies, the research group can attain overall views on variable populations and their alterations in time and space.

There is a demand to remove CO₂ from thermal plants to abate global warming. At the same time authorities demand treating wastewater to remove nitrogen and phosphorus and also to produce food. By combining algae farming at a power plant and using nutrients from the wastewater, actions to meet all these demands can be combined to a win-win situation. In this paper we make estimates what the dimensions and design criteria there would be for such an integrated system. The size of the algae farm will be significant. If placed in the sea, this may be feasible, but then storms must be considered. If we place in lakes, it is more competition for other uses that causes a problem. Combining with also greenhouses may be a possible solution. The biomass produced can be used directly as food or be processed by, e.g., fermentation to produce chemicals and methane (biogas).

Organic raw materials are the renewable sources of substrates for our industries and for our microbial communities. As industrial, agricultural or forestry side streams, they are usually affordable raw materials if the process entities, equipment and protocols are properly designed. The microbial communities that are used as biocatalysts take care of the process development together with the process team. Moreover, they constitute or shape the process to resemble the natural bioprocess as it takes place or occurs in nature and thus make it "Industry Like Nature®" - type of endeavor. As an ultimate result, we could make our industries increasingly 100% sustainable with the help of microbes. In case of food or forest industry side streams, this means fossil-free production of valuable chemicals, food and feed components, energy and gases, and soil improvement agents or organic fertilizers. The so-called "Finnoflag biorefinery" idea has been tested in many cases together with domestic and international colleagues and industries. In here, we attempt to share the basic thinking.

Addressing global challenges of waste management demands innovative approaches to turn biowaste into valuable resources. This chapter explores the potential of microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) as an alternative opportunity for biowaste valorisation and resource recovery due to their potential to address limitations associated with traditional methods. METs leverage microbial-driven oxidation and reduction reactions, enabling the conversion of different feedstocks into energy or value-added products. Their versatility spans across gas, food, water and soil streams, offering multiple solutions at different technological readiness levels to advance several sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda. By critically examining recent studies, this chapter uncovers challenges, optimisation strategies, and future research directions for real-world MET implementations. The integration of economic perspectives with technological developments provides a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and demands associated with METs in advancing the circular economy agenda, emphasising their pivotal role in waste minimisation, resource efficiency promotion, and closed-loop system renovation.

Today, organic chemical products are predominantly produced based on fossil raw materials. The demand for climate-friendly products, legal requirements and the EU emissions trading scheme (EU-ETS) are forcing the chemical industry to focus on increased recycling and production based on CO₂ and biomass in the future. To avoid competition with the food sector associated with the industrial use of biomass, organic waste, residual materials and CO₂ are to be tapped as carbon sources. This chapter describes the volume potential of these alternative raw materials in the EU and technologies for their utilisation in basic, speciality and fine chemical products for various applications and markets. The question of the availability of sustainable carbon sources arises for the large-volume products of basic chemistry. A detailed techno-economic analysis (TEA) to produce methanol based on CO₂ is therefore presented as an example. Finally, the requirements for achieving the raw material transition by 2050 are discussed.