Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
14:53
Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
12.0K
Renewable feedstocks for biobutanol production by fermentation
Alessandra Procentese1, Francesca Raganati2, Giuseppe Olivieri2
1Istituto di Ricerche sulla Combustione - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
New Biotechnology
|December 20, 2016
Summary
This study explores using waste streams like cheese whey and agricultural residues for biotechnological butanol production. Europe
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Bioenergy
- Sustainable Resource Management
Background:
- Growing demand for biofuels necessitates exploring sustainable and alternative feedstocks.
- Waste streams, including lignocellulosic biomass and sugar-rich byproducts, represent underutilized resources.
- Butanol is a promising biofuel with potential for high energy density and compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of various waste streams as feedstock for biotechnological butanol production.
- To assess the maximum butanol production rates achievable from different feedstocks.
- To estimate the overall potential for butanol production in Europe and a specific region (Campania).
Main Methods:
- Literature-based assessment of feedstock availability, composition, and butanol yield.
- Analysis of waste streams: cheese whey, beverage leftovers, food waste, and agricultural residues.
- Calculation of potential butanol production rates based on established parameters.
Main Results:
- Identified several viable waste streams for bio-butanol production.
- Estimated European potential of approximately 39 million tons per year, sufficient to meet current biofuel demand.
- Assessed local production potential in the Campania region based on feedstock supplier distribution.
Conclusions:
- Waste streams offer a substantial and sustainable source for bio-butanol production.
- Biotechnological butanol production from these feedstocks can significantly contribute to Europe's biofuel needs.
- Decentralized production models are feasible, particularly in regions with concentrated feedstock availability.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Fates of Pyruvate
11.9K
Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, where glucose is oxidized to pyruvate, simultaneously reducing NAD+ to NADH. Two molecules of ATP are also produced by substrate-level phosphorylation.
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
11.9K
01:23Microbial Fermentation
1.8K
Fermentation is a crucial anaerobic metabolic process that enables microbes to derive energy from sugar without relying on oxygen or an electron transport chain. This process is fundamental to various biological and industrial applications and is classified based on the metabolic products generated.Role of Pyruvate in FermentationPyruvate and its derivatives serve as key electron acceptors in fermentative pathways. The oxidation of NADH to regenerate NAD+ is essential for the continuation of...
1.8K
01:29Fermentation
132.2K
Most eukaryotic organisms require oxygen to survive and function adequately. Such organisms produce large amounts of energy during aerobic respiration by metabolizing glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water. However, most eukaryotes can generate some energy in the absence of oxygen by anaerobic metabolism.
Fermentation is a type of metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where organic molecules such as glucose are broken down to produce energy. During this process, the...
Fermentation is a type of metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where organic molecules such as glucose are broken down to produce energy. During this process, the...
132.2K
00:46Bioremediation
22.7K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
22.7K
01:26Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
822
Polysaccharides such as glycogen and starch are synthesized from nucleoside diphosphate sugars, primarily uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) and adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG). These activated glucose donors act as key intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis. UDPG primarily involves glycogen synthesis in animals and many bacteria, while ADPG plays a fundamental role in starch synthesis in plants and certain bacteria.UDPG is formed when glucose-1-phosphate reacts with...
822
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
1.3K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.3K