Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
10:42
Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass with Low-cost Ionic Liquids
Published on: August 10, 2016
18.9K
Butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass: revisiting fermentation performance indicators with exploratory data
Cansu Birgen1, Peter Dürre2, Heinz A Preisig1
11Department of Chemical Engineering, NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Biotechnology for Biofuels
|July 13, 2019
Summary
Butanol fermentation from lignocellulosic biomass shows promise as a biofuel. This review analyzes 175 studies to identify trends and bottlenecks for improved, cost-effective production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Bioenergy
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation, patented in 1915, is being revisited for butanol production.
- Butanol offers advantages over ethanol and methanol as a biofuel.
- Current large-scale butanol production faces challenges in substrate cost, product yield, and selectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a holistic understanding of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation process variables.
- To identify current trends and bottlenecks in butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass.
- To guide future research and development for profitable butanol manufacturing.
Main Methods:
- Compiled data from 175 fermentations of lignocellulosic biomass and mixed sugars for butanol production over three decades.
- Performed exploratory data analysis on the collected dataset.
- Focused on performance indicators to assess production efficiency.
Main Results:
- Identified key trends and bottlenecks in fermentative butanol production.
- Highlighted the importance of understanding interconnected fermentation variables.
- Demonstrated the utility of performance indicators for research direction.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive analysis of ABE fermentation data is crucial for advancing butanol as a biofuel.
- Addressing substrate costs and improving product titers/selectivity are key areas for development.
- Performance indicators can effectively guide future research towards economically viable butanol production.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Fermentation
128.9K
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...
128.9K
01:17Performing a Simple Data Analysis using MS-Excel Function
926
Microsoft Excel offers a suite of functions and tools ideal for statistical analysis, making it accessible to students and researchers. This article outlines fundamental Excel functions pivotal for data analysis.
SUM: This function calculates the total sum of a range of values. It's the foundation for aggregating data, essential for determining overall trends and totals in datasets.
AVERAGE: It computes the mean value of a given set of numbers, providing a quick insight into the central...
SUM: This function calculates the total sum of a range of values. It's the foundation for aggregating data, essential for determining overall trends and totals in datasets.
AVERAGE: It computes the mean value of a given set of numbers, providing a quick insight into the central...
926
02:39Indicators
59.8K
Certain organic substances change color in dilute solution when the hydronium ion concentration reaches a particular value. For example, phenolphthalein is a colorless substance in any aqueous solution with a hydronium ion concentration greater than 5.0 × 10−9 M (pH < 8.3). In more basic solutions where the hydronium ion concentration is less than 5.0 × 10−9 M (pH > 8.3), it is red or pink. Substances such as phenolphthalein, which can be used to determine the pH of a solution, are...
59.8K
01:20Drug Product Performance: In Vitro–In Vivo Correlation
251
In pharmaceutical development, it's crucial to establish a predictive in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) for two or more formulations to gain a comprehensive understanding of release properties. IVIVC reduces the need for costly in vivo studies and facilitates the establishment of meaningful dissolution specifications with significant cost savings and decreased regulatory burden. Furthermore, a meaningful IVIVC should predict Cmax and AUC within 20%, aligning with FDA guidance while...
251
01:23Microbial Fermentation
1.4K
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...
1.4K
01:12Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data
690
Analysis of population pharmacokinetic data involves studying the behavior of drugs within diverse populations to understand their pharmacokinetic parameters. Traditional pharmacokinetic methods typically involve collecting samples from a few individuals and estimating these parameters. While these methods are commonly used, they have limitations in capturing the variability in drug response among individuals or heterogeneous populations. Population pharmacokinetics is employed to address these...
690