Biodelignification of lignocellulose substrates: An intrinsic and sustainable pretreatment strategy for clean energy production

Author(s)

Chandel, Anuj K. ^[1] ; Goncalves, Bruna C. M. ^[1] ; Strap, Janice L. ^[2] ; da Silva, Silvio S. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biotechnol, Engn Sch Lorena, BR-12602810 Lorena, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Ontario, Inst Technol, Oshawa, ON - Canada

• Document type: Review article
• Source: CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY; v. 35, n. 3, p. 281-293, 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 20

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass (LB) is a promising sugar feedstock for biofuels and other high-value chemical commodities. The recalcitrance of LB, however, impedes carbohydrate accessibility and its conversion into commercially significant products. Two important factors for the overall economization of biofuel production is LB pretreatment to liberate fermentable sugars followed by conversion into ethanol. Sustainable biofuel production must overcome issues such as minimizing water and energy usage, reducing chemical usage and process intensification. Amongst available pretreatment methods, microorganism-mediated pretreatments are the safest, green, and sustainable. Native biodelignifying agents such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pycnoporous cinnabarinus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Cyathus stercoreus can remove lignin, making the remaining substrates amenable for saccharification. The development of a robust, integrated bioprocessing (IBP) approach for economic ethanol production would incorporate all essential steps including pretreatment, cellulase production, enzyme hydrolysis and fermentation of the released sugars into ethanol. IBP represents an inexpensive, environmentally friendly, low energy and low capital approach for second-generation ethanol production. This paper reviews the advancements in microbial-assisted pretreatment for the delignification of lignocellulosic substrates, system metabolic engineering for biorefineries and highlights the possibilities of process integration for sustainable and economic ethanol production. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/51214-8 - Biodelignification of sugarcane bagasse for the enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation in one pot to save water and clean energy production
• Grantee: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/57926-4 - Research and development aiming at the integrated exploitation of sugarcane bagasse for the biotechnological production of lignocellulosic ethanol
• Grantee: Silvio Silvério da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants