Process development for biological production of butanol from Eastern redcedar

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioenergy
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Eastern redcedar is an invasive species in the Central Plains, presenting a potential biomass resource.
• Butanol offers advantages over ethanol as a biofuel, including higher energy density and compatibility with existing fuel infrastructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient process for butanol production from Eastern redcedar biomass.
• To optimize fermentation conditions and detoxification strategies for maximizing butanol yield.

Main Methods:

• Investigated the growth of Clostridium strains (ATCC 824 and NCIMB 8052) in fermentation media with different buffers.
• Assessed the impact of activated carbon treatment for detoxifying redcedar hydrolyzate.
• Performed fermentations using detoxified redcedar hydrolyzate and compared yields to glucose controls.

Main Results:

• Acetate buffer enhanced butanol production by 3-4 g/L compared to citrate buffer.
• Activated carbon detoxification increased butanol concentration from 1 g/L to 13 g/L.
• Fermentations in detoxified hydrolyzate achieved 13 g/L butanol and 19 g/L total ABE (acetone, butanol, ethanol), comparable to glucose fermentation.

Conclusions:

• Optimized fermentation conditions and detoxification are crucial for utilizing Eastern redcedar for butanol production.
• Eastern redcedar is a viable feedstock for producing butanol, contributing to sustainable bioenergy solutions.
• This process demonstrates the potential to convert an invasive species into a valuable biofuel.