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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
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Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
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Optimized pulse-feeding fed-batch fermentation for enhanced lignin to polyhydroxyalkanoate transformation.
Pornkamol Unrean1, Verawat Champreda1
1National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Biotechnology Progress
|September 25, 2022
Summary
This study developed bioprocesses for converting lignin, a biorefinery byproduct, into bioplastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). A novel Pseudomonas fulva strain achieved enhanced PHA production, improving biorefinery economics.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biorefining
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Increasing lignin by-product from biorefineries necessitates valorisation strategies.
- Lignin upgrading is key to improving the economic viability of Bio-Circular-Green economy initiatives.
- Bioplastics offer sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop bioprocesses for upgrading organosolv lignin into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).
- To optimize fed-batch fermentation using a novel Pseudomonas fulva strain for enhanced PHA production from lignin.
- To characterize the PHA produced and assess the feasibility of lignin-to-PHA conversion.
Main Methods:
- Microbial bioconversion of organosolv lignin using a novel Pseudomonas fulva strain.
- Optimization of fed-batch fermentation with a pulse-feeding approach using Design of Experiment.
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for PHA composition analysis.
Main Results:
- Achieved a PHA concentration of 195.2 ± 6.6 mg/L under optimized fed-batch conditions.
- Demonstrated over a two-fold enhancement in PHA content compared to batch processes.
- Characterized the chemical composition of the PHA produced via GC-MS analysis.
Conclusions:
- Established an effective bioprocess for converting lignin into PHA using Pseudomonas fulva.
- Optimized fed-batch fermentation significantly enhanced PHA accumulation from lignin.
- This lignin-to-PHA conversion provides a platform for cost-effective biorefineries and integrated lignin bioprocessing.
