Hydroxycinnamic Acid Extraction from Multiple Lignocellulosic Sources: Correlations with Substrate Composition and...

Area of Science:

• Biomass Valorization
• Green Chemistry
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCADs) are valuable compounds found in lignocellulosic biomass.
• Extraction of HCADs is a key strategy for valorizing agro-industrial waste.
• HCADs have applications as antioxidants and flavoring agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish correlations between agro-industrial feedstock composition, taxonomy, and HCAD production.
• To identify prime sources of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid from diverse biomass.
• To demonstrate the conversion of biomass-derived HCADs into value-added products.

Main Methods:

• Chemometric analysis, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), was used to correlate feedstock composition with HCAD release.
• Mild alkaline treatment was applied to 28 global agro-industrial feedstocks.
• Genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae was employed for the bioconversion of corn hydrolysates.

Main Results:

• Strong correlations were found between ferulic acid release and hemicellulose content, particularly in grass biomass.
• p-Coumaric acid release was primarily correlated with cellulose content across various feedstocks.
• Corn biomass yielded up to 10.5 g kg-1 ferulic acid with high antioxidant capacity.
• Sugarcane bagasse yielded 4.8 g kg-1 p-coumaric acid.
• Corn hydrolysates were converted to 4-vinylguaiacol with yields of 0.75 g L-1.

Conclusions:

• Corn and sugarcane bagasse are identified as superior feedstocks for specific HCADs extraction.
• Biomass valorization through HCADs extraction offers sustainable routes for producing compounds for food and cosmetic industries.
• The study provides a framework for selecting feedstocks and optimizing processes for HCADs production.