Acetone-free biobutanol production: Past and recent advances in the Isopropanol-Butanol-Ethanol (IBE) fermentation

Author(s)

dos Santos Vieira, Carla Ferreira ^[1] ; Maugeri Filho, Francisco ^[2] ; Maciel Filho, Rubens ^[1] ; Mariano, Adriano Pinto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Sch Chem Engn, Lab Optimizat Design & Adv Control, Fermentat Div LOPCA Ferm, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Sch Food Engn, Bioproc & Metab Engn Lab LEMeB, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Bioresource Technology; v. 287, SEP 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Production of butanol for fuel via the conventional Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol fermentation has been considered economically risky because of a potential oversupply of acetone. Alternatively, acetone is converted into isopropanol by specific solventogenic Clostridium species in the Isopropanol-Butanol-Ethanol (IBE) fermentation. This route, although less efficient, has been gaining attention because IBE mixtures are a potential fuel. The present work is dedicated to reviewing past and recent advances in microorganisms, feedstock, and fermentation equipment for IBE production. In our analysis we demonstrate the importance of novel engineered IBE-producing Clostridium strains and cell retention systems to decrease the staggering number of fermentation tanks required by IBE plants equipped with conventional technology. We also summarize the recent progress on recovery techniques integrated with fermentation, especially gas stripping. In addition, we assessed ongoing pilotplant efforts that have been enabling IBE production from woody feedstock. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/23983-3 - Routes for production of sugarcane-based tires: efficient conversion of sugars to 1,3-butadiene precursors and techno-economic-environmental assessment
• Grantee: Adriano Pinto Mariano
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/20630-4 - Biorefinery development integrated to a bioethanol sugar cane plant with zero CO2 emission: routes to convert renewable resources to bio-products and bio-electricity
• Grantee: Rubens Maciel Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/23042-9 - Development of advanced fermentation technology for the production of n-butanol, isopropanol and ethanol from sugar cane bagasse
• Grantee: Carla Ferreira dos Santos Vieira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate