Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process
Corncobs are a plentiful lignocellulosic material that can be utilized for energy production as well as the generation of other high-value products. Within the modern concept of biorefineries, we present processes conducted in a column reactor for the valorization of corncobs as a substrate for etha...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4841 |
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| author | Felipe A. F. Antunes Jade B. F. Freitas Carina A. Prado Maria J. Castro-Alonso Erick Diaz-Ruiz Alain E. Mera Júlio C. Santos Silvio S. da Silva |
| author_facet | Felipe A. F. Antunes Jade B. F. Freitas Carina A. Prado Maria J. Castro-Alonso Erick Diaz-Ruiz Alain E. Mera Júlio C. Santos Silvio S. da Silva |
| author_sort | Felipe A. F. Antunes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Corncobs are a plentiful lignocellulosic material that can be utilized for energy production as well as the generation of other high-value products. Within the modern concept of biorefineries, we present processes conducted in a column reactor for the valorization of corncobs as a substrate for ethanol and xylitol production. In the first step, corncobs were subjected to acid hydrolysis, resulting in a hemicellulosic hydrolysate rich in xylose sugars intended for xylitol production by <i>Candida tropicalis</i> UFMGBX12-a. The Y<sub>P/S</sub> (yield coefficient of product to substrate) and Q<sub>P</sub> (productivity) values were approximately 0.2 g/g and 0.15 g/L·h, respectively, for the assays conducted in the column reactor. Next, the remaining solid portion of cellulignin was used for ethanol production through semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process by <i>Scheffersomyces parashehatae</i> UFMG-HM 52.2. This approach involved an intensified successive process consisting of alkaline pretreatment of cellulignin, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentative processes conducted in the same reactor without biomass transfer. After obtaining the enzymatic hydrolysate, a Q<sub>P</sub> value of 0.4 g/L·h for ethanol production was observed in the fermentation process conducted in the column reactor. The results demonstrate the potential of corncobs as a carbon source for biomolecules production, utilizing a process conducive to scale-up. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:42:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64597e28d5dc4956b8039ddf34c821af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:42:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-64597e28d5dc4956b8039ddf34c821af2023-11-18T16:26:39ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-06-011613484110.3390/en16134841Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor ProcessFelipe A. F. Antunes0Jade B. F. Freitas1Carina A. Prado2Maria J. Castro-Alonso3Erick Diaz-Ruiz4Alain E. Mera5Júlio C. Santos6Silvio S. da Silva7Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, BrazilCorncobs are a plentiful lignocellulosic material that can be utilized for energy production as well as the generation of other high-value products. Within the modern concept of biorefineries, we present processes conducted in a column reactor for the valorization of corncobs as a substrate for ethanol and xylitol production. In the first step, corncobs were subjected to acid hydrolysis, resulting in a hemicellulosic hydrolysate rich in xylose sugars intended for xylitol production by <i>Candida tropicalis</i> UFMGBX12-a. The Y<sub>P/S</sub> (yield coefficient of product to substrate) and Q<sub>P</sub> (productivity) values were approximately 0.2 g/g and 0.15 g/L·h, respectively, for the assays conducted in the column reactor. Next, the remaining solid portion of cellulignin was used for ethanol production through semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process by <i>Scheffersomyces parashehatae</i> UFMG-HM 52.2. This approach involved an intensified successive process consisting of alkaline pretreatment of cellulignin, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentative processes conducted in the same reactor without biomass transfer. After obtaining the enzymatic hydrolysate, a Q<sub>P</sub> value of 0.4 g/L·h for ethanol production was observed in the fermentation process conducted in the column reactor. The results demonstrate the potential of corncobs as a carbon source for biomolecules production, utilizing a process conducive to scale-up.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4841corncobscolumn reactorxylitolethanol |
| spellingShingle | Felipe A. F. Antunes Jade B. F. Freitas Carina A. Prado Maria J. Castro-Alonso Erick Diaz-Ruiz Alain E. Mera Júlio C. Santos Silvio S. da Silva Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process Energies corncobs column reactor xylitol ethanol |
| title | Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process |
| title_full | Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process |
| title_fullStr | Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process |
| title_short | Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process |
| title_sort | valorization of corn cobs for xylitol and bioethanol production through column reactor process |
| topic | corncobs column reactor xylitol ethanol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4841 |
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