Kinetics of simultaneous saccharification and lactic acid fermentation processes

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemical Engineering
• Renewable Resources

Background:

• Lignocellulosic biomass, such as corn cob, presents a sustainable feedstock for bioproducts.
• Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSLF) integrates enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation in a single step.
• Optimizing SSLF conditions is crucial for efficient conversion of biomass into valuable chemicals like lactic acid.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using pretreated corn cob residue for simultaneous saccharification and lactic acid fermentation (SSLF).
• To evaluate the compatibility of lactic acid fermentation with enzymatic hydrolysis under shared optimal conditions.
• To develop a mathematical model for simulating the SSLF process.

Main Methods:

• Corn cob was pretreated using dilute acid to yield lignocellulosic residue.
• The residue was subjected to simultaneous saccharification and lactic acid fermentation (SSLF).
• A mathematical model was developed to simulate the SSLF process.

Main Results:

• The SSLF process achieved a final lactic acid concentration of 33.97 g/L.
• A high conversion ratio of 79% was obtained, based on the consumed cellulose.
• The developed mathematical model showed good agreement with the experimental SSLF process.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous saccharification and lactic acid fermentation (SSLF) is a viable and efficient method for converting pretreated corn cob into lactic acid.
• The compatible requirements of enzymatic hydrolysis and lactic acid fermentation facilitate a streamlined bioprocess.
• The mathematical model provides a reliable tool for simulating and potentially optimizing SSLF processes.