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Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
Upcycling food processing byproducts via advanced yeast fermentation
Sunghee Kim1, Seoyoung Lee1, Grace Evelina1
1School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Food processing byproducts are generated in large volumes yet remain underutilized despite their valuable biochemical composition. Fermentation-based upcycling offers a promising route to convert these byproducts into value-added products while supporting sustainable and circular food systems. However, food processing byproducts often contain polymeric substrates, mixed sugars, high osmolarity, mineral loads, and inhibitory compounds that reduce growth, fermentation efficiency, and process robustness. This review presents a yeast-forward perspective, highlighting engineered and stress-tolerant yeast platforms as scalable hosts for converting heterogeneous substrates. Recent advances in feedstock-specific microbial platform design, metabolic redox control, and process integration are highlighted, with applications in producing organic acids, functional ingredients, alcohols, and polyols. Economically viable byproduct upcycling requires coordinated optimization of feedstock properties, microbial metabolism, and integrated bioprocesses.
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