Consolidated bioprocessing is a one-step process that allows the direct microbial conversion of cellulosic substrates to ethanol and hydrogen. The fermentation was initially performed in batch cultures, in a pH and temperature controlled reactor using Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405. With an objective of increasing the production of ethanol and hydrogen, various types of fed-batch fermentations were investigated: variable volume (VV) fed-batch, fixed volume (FV) fed-batch, and semi-continuous fermentation. Semi-continuous processes were carried out at low (10-15 g/L) and high (20-25 g/L) cellulose concentrations. The maximum ethanol production obtained in batch, VV, FV, semi-continuous with low concentrations and high concentrations were 554 mmol, 336 mmol, 477 mmol, 695 mmol and 741 mmol respectively. In the same order, the total hydrogen production was 288 mmol, 364 mmol, 231 mmol, 434 mmol, and 387 mmol. Overall, the semi-continuous fermentation showed more promise in terms of large-scale deployment compared to batch, VV, and FV fed-batch. / October 2015

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:17:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_laf_me_araiq.pdf: 881872 bytes, checksum: 1ed668293818af00e17546ddfe67a5f2 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os resultados descritos neste trabalho para a produção de etanol utilizando-se a levedura IQ-AR/45-1, forneceram informações sobre os melhores suplementos nutricionais e melhor tamanho de inóculo para a fermentação em batelada alimentada. Dadas as variações na composição do melaço e o uso de uma nova levedura, faz-se necessário o estudo de suas exigências nutricionais em processos fermentativos. Experimentos preliminares em batelada simples mostraram que a adição de DAP diminuiu o tempo de fermentação, estimulou o acúmulo da biomassa e produção de etanol enquanto o ZnSO4.7H2O diminuiu o tempo da fermentação, e aumentou o acúmulo de etanol elevando a produtividade. A adição de MgSO4.7H2O produziu mais etanol, melhorou o rendimento alcoólico e a produtividade. Estes resultados obtidos em batelada simples foram transferidos para o sistema em batelada alimentada. A melhor vazão do melaço 20 % em ART foi de 0,40 mL.min-1 para um volume final de trabalho de 100,0 mL. O aumento da temperatura de fermentação de 34 ºC para 37 ºC em meio suplementado com DAP e ZnSO4.7H2O ou DAP e MgSO4.7H2O diminuiu o tempo da fermentação e a biomassa produzida, porém, com menor rendimento e maior produtividade de etanol. O tamanho do inóculo foi estudado com meio suplementado a 34ºC. As melhores condições foram obtidas no processo em batelada alimentada a 34ºC no qual foi utilizado melaço clarificado com ácido sulfúrico e uma quantidade de inóculo de (23,7±0,1) g.L-1 que levou a um tempo de fermentação de 5 horas. Nestas condições, o rendimento alcoólico foi de (79,1±0,7) % e a produtividade de (16,17±0,56) g.L-1 .h-1 / The results of the fermentative processes for ethanol production using the yeast IQ-AR/45-1, provided information about the best nutritional supplementation and inoculum size for the batch fermentation. Due to the differences in the sugarcane molasses and the use of a new yeast strain, it was necessary to study the nutritional requirements of the new yeast. Previous experiments in batch fermentation showed that the DAP addition reduced the fermentation time, enhanced the biomass and ethanol production while the ZnSO4.7H2O reduced the fermentation time and increased both the ethanol production and productivity. The addiction of MgSO4.7H2O to the molasses increased the ethanol yield and enhanced the productivity. These results obtained in batch cultures were assayed in fed-batch fermentation. Using 20 % molasses (TRS), the best flow was 0.40 mL.min-1 for a final working volume of 100.0 mL. When molasses supplemented with DAP and ZnSO4.7H2O or DAP and MgSO4.7H2O was used in the fed-batch experiments, the raise in the temperature from 34 ºC to 37 ºC led to decreases in the fermentation time, production of biomass, and ethanol yield followed by increases in ethanol productivity. The best inoculum size to the ethanol fermentation was (23.7±0.1) g.L-1 which led to a yield of (79.1±0.7) % and productivity of (16.17±0.56) g.L-1 .h-1

Resumo: Os resultados descritos neste trabalho para a produção de etanol utilizando-se a levedura IQ-AR/45-1, forneceram informações sobre os melhores suplementos nutricionais e melhor tamanho de inóculo para a fermentação em batelada alimentada. Dadas as variações na composição do melaço e o uso de uma nova levedura, faz-se necessário o estudo de suas exigências nutricionais em processos fermentativos. Experimentos preliminares em batelada simples mostraram que a adição de DAP diminuiu o tempo de fermentação, estimulou o acúmulo da biomassa e produção de etanol enquanto o ZnSO4.7H2O diminuiu o tempo da fermentação, e aumentou o acúmulo de etanol elevando a produtividade. A adição de MgSO4.7H2O produziu mais etanol, melhorou o rendimento alcoólico e a produtividade. Estes resultados obtidos em batelada simples foram transferidos para o sistema em batelada alimentada. A melhor vazão do melaço 20 % em ART foi de 0,40 mL.min-1 para um volume final de trabalho de 100,0 mL. O aumento da temperatura de fermentação de 34 ºC para 37 ºC em meio suplementado com DAP e ZnSO4.7H2O ou DAP e MgSO4.7H2O diminuiu o tempo da fermentação e a biomassa produzida, porém, com menor rendimento e maior produtividade de etanol. O tamanho do inóculo foi estudado com meio suplementado a 34ºC. As melhores condições foram obtidas no processo em batelada alimentada a 34ºC no qual foi utilizado melaço clarificado com ácido sulfúrico e uma quantidade de inóculo de (23,7±0,1) g.L-1 que levou a um tempo de fermentação de 5 horas. Nestas condições, o rendimento alcoólico foi de (79,1±0,7) % e a produtividade de (16,17±0,56) g.L-1 .h-1 / Abstract: The results of the fermentative processes for ethanol production using the yeast IQ-AR/45-1, provided information about the best nutritional supplementation and inoculum size for the batch fermentation. Due to the differences in the sugarcane molasses and the use of a new yeast strain, it was necessary to study the nutritional requirements of the new yeast. Previous experiments in batch fermentation showed that the DAP addition reduced the fermentation time, enhanced the biomass and ethanol production while the ZnSO4.7H2O reduced the fermentation time and increased both the ethanol production and productivity. The addiction of MgSO4.7H2O to the molasses increased the ethanol yield and enhanced the productivity. These results obtained in batch cultures were assayed in fed-batch fermentation. Using 20 % molasses (TRS), the best flow was 0.40 mL.min-1 for a final working volume of 100.0 mL. When molasses supplemented with DAP and ZnSO4.7H2O or DAP and MgSO4.7H2O was used in the fed-batch experiments, the raise in the temperature from 34 ºC to 37 ºC led to decreases in the fermentation time, production of biomass, and ethanol yield followed by increases in ethanol productivity. The best inoculum size to the ethanol fermentation was (23.7±0.1) g.L-1 which led to a yield of (79.1±0.7) % and productivity of (16.17±0.56) g.L-1 .h-1 / Orientador: Cecília Laluce / Coorientador: Reinaldo Marchetto / Banca: Leinig Antonio Perazolli / Banca: Douglas Wagner Franco / Mestre

No description available.

<p>The aim of this work was to develop a production process for the enzyme xyloglucan <i>endo</i>-transglycosylase from <i>Populus tremula x tremuloides</i> (<i>Ptt</i>XET16-34). The natural transglycosylating activity of this enzyme has previously been employed in a XET-Technology. This chemo enzymatic method is useful for biomimetic modification of cellulose surfaces and holds great potential for industrial applications. Thus, it requires that the XET-enzyme can be produced in larger scale.</p><p>This work also shows how the wildtype <i>Ptt</i>XET16-34 was modified into a glycosynthase. By mutation of the catalytic nucleophile into an alanine, glycine or serine residue, enzymes capable of synthesising defined xyloglucan fragments were obtained. These defined compounds are very valuable for further detailed studies of xyloglucan active-enzymes, but are also useful in molecular studies of the structurally important xyloglucan-cellulose interaction.</p><p>A heterologous production system for <i>Ptt</i>XET16-34 was previously developed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. A methanol-limited fed-batch process was also previously established, but the yield of active XET was low due to proteolysis problems and low productivity. Therefore, two alternative fed-batch techniques were investigated for the production of <i>Ptt</i>XET16-34: a temperature-limited fed-batch (TLFB) and an oxygen-limited high-pressure fed-batch (OLHPFB).</p><p>For the initial recovery of XET after the fermentation process, two different downstream processes were investigated: expanded bed adsorption (EBA) and cross-flow filtration (CFF).</p>

Over recent years microbial oil has attracted much attention due to its potential to replace traditional oil sources in the production of biofuels and nutraceuticals. Its advantages arise from its independence of the food supply chain and its ease of production compared to conventional plant oils. Also, as concerns for the environment grow, microbially-synthesized oil emerges as potential competitor for the sustainable production of biodiesel. However, the high cost of its production currently hinders its large scale application. The bottlenecks to industrial microbial oil production are the cost of substrate and cultivation. Current research is focusing on process improvements to make microbial oil more competitive and worthwhile to produce. Several types of microorganisms have been explored so far and waste substrates have been utilised as cheap feedstocks. The overall cost is affected by the fermentation stage, therefore it is imperative to design cultivations with little operating requirements and high yields. Consequently, the present thesis aims to contribute to the field by developing and investigating a simple process for oleaginous yeast cultivation, focusing mainly on enhancing the yields during the bioreactor stage. Oleaginous yeasts were screened for their ability to grow on glycerol and the most promising strain was selected for further research. Then, the necessary conditions for its growth and oil accumulation were defined. Shake-flask cultivations showed that the specific growth rate and glycerol consumption of Rh. glutinis were higher at lower glycerol concentrations (smaller or equal to40 g/L), while higher C/N elemental ratios enhanced oil content. Experimental data were used to construct an unstructured kinetic model to describe and predict the system's behaviour. The Monod-based model took into account double substrate growth dependence and substrate inhibition. Following that, bioreactor cultivations extended the range of parameters studied, to include the influence of aeration rate and oxygen supply on cellular growth and microbial oil production. Cultivations at different air flow rates were performed in a 2 L bioreactor and showed that a low aeration rate of 0.5 L/min gave the best glycerol and nitrogen uptake rates, resulting in a concentration of biomass of 5.3 g/L with oil content of 33% under simple batch operation. This was improved by 68% to 16.8 g/L (cellular biomass) with similar oil content (34%) by applying a fed-batch strategy. Finally, different glycerol feeding schemes were evaluated in terms of their effect on oil accumulation. The concept of targeting first a cell proliferation stage, limited by the availability of nitrogen, followed by a lipid accumulation stage, fuelled by glycerol was tested. Continual feeding and pulsed feedings, delivering the same total amount of nitrogen (and glycerol), resulted in similar elevated values of both cellular biomass (~25 g/L) and oil content (~40%). Addition of glycerol at higher rates but giving the same total amount of nitrogen led to a further increase in oil content to 53%, resulting in an overall oil yield of more than 16 g/L (the highest achieved throughout the project). With comparable yields to those reported in the literature but achieved with a much poorer medium, there is every reason to be optimistic that microbial oil production from glycerol could be commercially viable in the future.

The aim of this work was to develop a production process for the enzyme xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase from Populus tremula x tremuloides (PttXET16-34). The natural transglycosylating activity of this enzyme has previously been employed in a XET-Technology. This chemo enzymatic method is useful for biomimetic modification of cellulose surfaces and holds great potential for industrial applications. Thus, it requires that the XET-enzyme can be produced in larger scale. This work also shows how the wildtype PttXET16-34 was modified into a glycosynthase. By mutation of the catalytic nucleophile into an alanine, glycine or serine residue, enzymes capable of synthesising defined xyloglucan fragments were obtained. These defined compounds are very valuable for further detailed studies of xyloglucan active-enzymes, but are also useful in molecular studies of the structurally important xyloglucan-cellulose interaction. A heterologous production system for PttXET16-34 was previously developed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. A methanol-limited fed-batch process was also previously established, but the yield of active XET was low due to proteolysis problems and low productivity. Therefore, two alternative fed-batch techniques were investigated for the production of PttXET16-34: a temperature-limited fed-batch (TLFB) and an oxygen-limited high-pressure fed-batch (OLHPFB). For the initial recovery of XET after the fermentation process, two different downstream processes were investigated: expanded bed adsorption (EBA) and cross-flow filtration (CFF). / <p>QC 20101108</p>

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Recently, improved technologies have been developed for the biobutanol fermentation process: higher butanol concentrations and productivities are achieved during fermentation, and separation and purification techniques are less energy intensive. This may result in an economically viable process when compared to the petrochemical pathway for butanol production. The objective of this study is to develop process models to compare different possible process designs for biobutanol production from sugarcane molasses. Some of the best improved strains, which include Clostridium acetobutylicum PCSIR-10 and Clostridium beijerinckii BA101, produce total solvent concentrations of up to 24 g/L. Among the novel technologies for fermentation and downstream processing, fedbatch fermentation with in situ product recovery by gas-stripping, followed by either liquid-liquid extraction or adsorption, appears to be the most promising techniques for current industrial application. Incorporating these technologies into a biorefinery concept will contribute toward the development of an economically viable process. In this study three process routes are developed. The first two process routes incorporate well established industrial technologies: Process Route 1 consist of batch fermentation and steam stripping distillation, while in Process Route 2, some of the distillation columns is replaced with a liquid-liquid extraction column. The third process route incorporates fed-batch fermentation and gas-stripping, an unproven technology on industrial scale. Process modelling in ASPEN PLUS® and economic analyses in ASPEN Icarus® are performed to determine the economic feasibility of these biobutanol production process designs. Process Route 3 proved to be the only profitable design in current economic conditions. For the latter process, the first order estimate of the total project capital cost is $187 345 000.00 (IRR: 35.96%). Improved fermentation strains currently available are not sufficient to attain a profitable process design without implementation of advanced processing techniques. Gas stripping is shown to be the single most effective process step (of those evaluated in this study) which can be employed on an industrial scale to improve process economics of biobutanol production. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onlangse verbeteringe in die tegnologie vir die vervaardiging van butanol via die fermentasie roete het tot gevolg dat: hoër butanol konsentrasies en produktiwiteit verkry kan word tydens die fermentasie proses, en energie verbruik tydens skeiding-en suiweringsprosesse laer is. Hierdie verbeteringe kan daartoe lei dat biobutanol op ʼn ekonomiese vlak kan kompeteer met die petrochemiese vervaardigings proses vir butanol. Die doelwit van die studie is om proses modelle te ontwikkel waarmee verskillende proses ontwerpe vir die vervaardiging van biobutanol vanaf suikerriet melasse vergelyk kan word. Verbeterde fermentasie organismes, wat insluit Clostridium acetobutylicum PCSIR-10 en Clostridium beijerinckii BA101, het die vermoë om ABE konsentrasies so hoog as 24 g/L te produseer. Wat nuwe tegnologie vir fermentasie en skeidingprosesse behels, wil dit voorkom of wisselvoer fermentasie met gelyktydige verwydering van produkte deur gasstroping, gevolg deur of vloeistof-vloeistof ekstraksie of adsorpsie, van die mees belowende tegnieke is om tans in die nywerheid te implementeer. Deur hierdie tegnologie in ʼn bioraffinadery konsep te inkorporeer sal bydra tot die ontwikkeling van ʼn ekonomies lewensvatbare proses. Drie prosesserings roetes word in die studie ontwikkel. Die eerste twee maak gebruik van goed gevestigde industriële tegnologie: Proses Roete 1 implementeer enkellading fermentasie en stoom stroping distillasie, terwyl in Proses Roete 2 van die distilasiekolomme vervang word met ʼn vloeistof-vloeistof ekstraksiekolom. Die derde proses roete maak gebruik van wisselvoer fermentasie met gelyktydige verwydering van produkte deur gas stroping. Die tegnologie is nog nie in die nywerheid bewys of gevestig nie. Om die ekonomiese uitvoerbaarheid van die proses ontwerpe te bepaal word proses modellering uitgevoer in ASPEN PLUS® en ekonomiese analises in ASPEN Icarus® gedoen. Proses Roete 3 is die enigste ontwerp wat winsgewend is in huidige ekonomiese toestande. Die eerste orde koste beraming van die laasgenoemde projek se totale kapitale koste is $187 345 000.00 (opbrengskoers: 35.96%). Die verbeterde fermentasie organismes wat tans beskikbaar is, is nie voldoende om ʼn proses winsgewend te maak nie; gevorderde proses tegnologie moet geïmplementeer word. Gasstroping is bewys as die mees effektiewe proses stap (getoets in die studie) wat op industriële skaal geïmplementeer kan word om die winsgewendheid van die biobutanol proses te verbeter. / Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a family of biodegradable polyesters naturally synthesised by some bacteria and archaea. PHA have high industrial value as bioplastics for packaging and biomedical applications. However, their broader use is hindered by high production costs and uncontrolled variation of polymer properties. The extreme halophile Haloferax mediterranei shows bioprocess advantages that can be exploited for the low cost production of the PHA copolymer Poly(3-hydroxbutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalterate) (PHBV). The focus of this thesis is to identify process variables responsible for the uncontrolled variation of PHA properties in order to progress towards the robust production of PHBV using H. mediterranei. The outcome of the investigation is a novel cultivation strategy for the reliable synthesis of PHBV copolymers with controlled composition and microstructure showing minor differences in material characteristics. Initially, growth kinetics and PHBV synthesis were characterised under nitrogen-excess and nitrogen-limiting conditions in ammonium and for the first time, nitrate. The nitrogen source and concentration influenced PHBV accumulation and variations in polymer composition were observed with ammonium, highlighting the importance of the control of cultivation conditions. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) were found to be a more direct approach to determine PHBV composition and for the first time were used as substrates in H. mediterranei cultures. When the cells were grown in C4:0/C5:0 mixtures, the 3HV fraction in the PHBV was proportional to the percentage of C5:0 in the feed mixture, allowing the synthesis of copolymers with a predefined composition ranging from pure PHB to pure PHV. The cultivation strategy proved effective for the synthesis of HV rich PHBV, which is not easily obtained due to the 3HV precursor toxicity. The polymer microstructure was controlled using different feeding strategies: co-feeding generated random copolymers, while sequential feeding created block and blend copolymers. The synthesis of block copolymers is of interest because the materials show enhanced yield strength and mechanical strength, making such materials more suitable for commodity uses. Bespoke random, block, and blend copolymers with 0−100 mol% 3HV were synthesized and their thermal and mechanical properties studied. Lastly, high temperature cultivation and several surfactants were tested to enhance the production of bespoke PHBV from VFA. PHBV productivity and accumulation was greatly improved in a fed-batch bioreactor fermentation at 37°C with Tween-80 and the maximum PHBV content 58.9% was obtained. The polymers from shake-flasks and from bioreactors showed minor variations in their material properties, demonstrating the scalability and the robustness of the process developed. Further understanding of the different process variables affecting polymer synthesis and composition was gained in this thesis. It is now possible to produce PHBV with controllable composition, microstructure and minor differences in material characteristics. The novel and robust production strategy developed address the bioprocess challenge of minimising the uncontrolled variation of polymer characteristics that is currently hindering the wider use of PHA hence allowing the production of high quality polymers for commodity goods, packaging and biomedical applications.