Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: The economic viability of the biorefinery concept is limited by the valorization of lignin. One possible method of lignin valorization is biological upgrading with aromatic-catabolic microbes. In conjunction, lignin monomers can be produced by fast pyrolysis and fractionation. However, biological upgrading of these lignin monomers is limited by low water solubility. Here, we address the problem of low water solubility with an emulsifier blend containing approximately 70 wt% Tween® 20 and 30 wt% Span® 80. Pseudomonas putida KT2440 grew to an optical density (OD600) of 1.0 ± 0.2 when supplied with 1.6 wt% emulsified phenolic monomer-rich product produced by fast pyrolysis of red oak using an emulsifier dose of 0.076 ± 0.002 g emulsifier blend per g of phenolic monomer-rich product. This approach partially mitigated the toxicity of the model phenolic monomer p-coumarate to the microbe, but not benzoate or vanillin. This study provides a proof of concept that processing of biomass-derived phenolics to increase aqueous availability can enhance microbial utilization.
Authors: Kirsten Davis, Marjorie R Rover, Davinia Salvachúa, Ryan G Smith, Gregg T Beckham, Zhiyou Wen, Robert C Brown, Laura R Jarboe
Institutions: Iowa State University, National Laboratory of the Rockies
Language: English
Topic: Lignin and Wood Chemistry
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Iowa State University, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Bioeconomy Institute, Iowa State University, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, Office of Energy Efficiency, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
OpenAlex ID: W2954968617