Development of Closed-Loop Fermentation Systems
Objectives The goal of this project is to increase the efficiency of fermentative production processes by developing recycling techniques/methods for microbial biomass, other by-products and process water. This project will result in the development of a toolbox applicable in many different fermentations and will result in improvement of process economics and sustainability of large scale fermentation processes.In addition, this project will lead to enhanced fundamental knowledge on the composition and metabolisation of microbial cell walls and other components from spent fermentation broths.
In fermentation processes, carbohydrates and other nutrients are converted into a main product and side streams such as microbial biomass and other by-products. The formation of side streams negatively affects the yield of the fermentation process. In contemporary industrial fermentations, microbial biomass is usually recovered and used for the production of animal feed; other by-products are dealt with as fertiliser or in wastewater treatment systems. These solutions however will not be sufficient in the future in view of the anticipated increased size of fermentations (e.g. bioethanol), reduced demand from the feed industry and stricter regulations for disposal of organic waste streams (incl. containment of genetically modified organisms (gmo’s)).
The recycle stream consists of three components: microbial biomass, other (soluble) by-products and process water. Methods will be developed for the pre-treatment and hydrolysis of microbial biomass. Industrially relevant micro-organisms, yeast, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonads and Clostridia will be used. The model system to be used for the recycling process is the formation of acetone, butanol and ethanol (the ABE process) by Clostridia. A toolbox will be developed enabling the recycling of all by-product streams in the fermentation process.
Project Partners
Shell Global Solutions; Paques b.v.
Acknowledgment
This project forms part of the B-Basic programme ( www.b-basic.nl ), an major Industrial Biotechnology programme. B-Basic is an independent NWO-ACTS programme which is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Prof dr ir Gerrit Eggink
Wageningen UR - Biobased Products
gerrit.eggink@wur.nl
tel: +31 317-475322