A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products

The development and commercialization of sustainable chemicals from agricultural products and by-products is necessary for a circular economy built on renewable natural resources. Among the largest contributors to the final cost of a biomass conversion product is the cost of the initial biomass feed...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gillian O. Bruni, Evan Terrell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Fermentation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/5/216
_version_ 1797499978389651456
author Gillian O. Bruni
Evan Terrell
author_facet Gillian O. Bruni
Evan Terrell
author_sort Gillian O. Bruni
collection DOAJ
description The development and commercialization of sustainable chemicals from agricultural products and by-products is necessary for a circular economy built on renewable natural resources. Among the largest contributors to the final cost of a biomass conversion product is the cost of the initial biomass feedstock, representing a significant challenge in effective biomass utilization. Another major challenge is in identifying the correct products for development, which must be able to satisfy the need for both low-cost, drop-in fossil fuel replacements and novel, high-value fine chemicals (and/or commodity chemicals). Both challenges can be met by utilizing wastes or by-products from biomass processing, which have very limited starting cost, to yield platform chemicals. Specifically, sugar crop processing (e.g., sugarcane, sugar beet) is a mature industry that produces high volumes of by-products with significant potential for valorization. This review focuses specifically on the production of acetoin (3-hydroxybutanone), 2,3-butanediol, and C4 dicarboxylic (succinic, malic, and fumaric) acids with emphasis on biochemical conversion and targeted upgrading of sugar crop products/by-products. These C4 compounds are easily derived from fermentations and can be converted into many different final products, including food, fragrance, and cosmetic additives, as well as sustainable biofuels and other chemicals. State-of-the-art literature pertaining to optimization strategies for microbial conversion of sugar crop byproducts to C4 chemicals (e.g., bagasse, molasses) is reviewed, along with potential routes for upgrading and valorization. Directions and opportunities for future research and industrial biotechnology development are discussed.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T03:55:15Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7723a75cc506480882149c520820adfa
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2311-5637
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T03:55:15Z
publishDate 2022-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Fermentation
spelling doaj.art-7723a75cc506480882149c520820adfa2023-11-23T10:57:06ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372022-05-018521610.3390/fermentation8050216A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-ProductsGillian O. Bruni0Evan Terrell1U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124, USAU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124, USAThe development and commercialization of sustainable chemicals from agricultural products and by-products is necessary for a circular economy built on renewable natural resources. Among the largest contributors to the final cost of a biomass conversion product is the cost of the initial biomass feedstock, representing a significant challenge in effective biomass utilization. Another major challenge is in identifying the correct products for development, which must be able to satisfy the need for both low-cost, drop-in fossil fuel replacements and novel, high-value fine chemicals (and/or commodity chemicals). Both challenges can be met by utilizing wastes or by-products from biomass processing, which have very limited starting cost, to yield platform chemicals. Specifically, sugar crop processing (e.g., sugarcane, sugar beet) is a mature industry that produces high volumes of by-products with significant potential for valorization. This review focuses specifically on the production of acetoin (3-hydroxybutanone), 2,3-butanediol, and C4 dicarboxylic (succinic, malic, and fumaric) acids with emphasis on biochemical conversion and targeted upgrading of sugar crop products/by-products. These C4 compounds are easily derived from fermentations and can be converted into many different final products, including food, fragrance, and cosmetic additives, as well as sustainable biofuels and other chemicals. State-of-the-art literature pertaining to optimization strategies for microbial conversion of sugar crop byproducts to C4 chemicals (e.g., bagasse, molasses) is reviewed, along with potential routes for upgrading and valorization. Directions and opportunities for future research and industrial biotechnology development are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/5/216sugarcanesugar beetfermentationbiorefineryplatform chemicalssuccinic acid
spellingShingle Gillian O. Bruni
Evan Terrell
A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products
Fermentation
sugarcane
sugar beet
fermentation
biorefinery
platform chemicals
succinic acid
title A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products
title_full A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products
title_fullStr A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products
title_full_unstemmed A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products
title_short A Review on the Production of C4 Platform Chemicals from Biochemical Conversion of Sugar Crop Processing Products and By-Products
title_sort review on the production of c4 platform chemicals from biochemical conversion of sugar crop processing products and by products
topic sugarcane
sugar beet
fermentation
biorefinery
platform chemicals
succinic acid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/5/216
work_keys_str_mv AT gillianobruni areviewontheproductionofc4platformchemicalsfrombiochemicalconversionofsugarcropprocessingproductsandbyproducts
AT evanterrell areviewontheproductionofc4platformchemicalsfrombiochemicalconversionofsugarcropprocessingproductsandbyproducts
AT gillianobruni reviewontheproductionofc4platformchemicalsfrombiochemicalconversionofsugarcropprocessingproductsandbyproducts
AT evanterrell reviewontheproductionofc4platformchemicalsfrombiochemicalconversionofsugarcropprocessingproductsandbyproducts