Work

Holistic lignocellulosic biorefinery approach for co-production of L-lactic acid, flavonoids, and lignin from Euryale ferox seed shell feedstock

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Euryale ferox seed shell (EFSS) is an agricultural waste biomass with abundant cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractives. However, the complete valorization of EFSS to valuable products is still challenging. Herein, a holistic lignocellulosic biorefinery approach was proposed, employing a novel two-stage deep eutectic solvent (DES) treatment for efficient fractionation of EFSS. Firstly, 0.18 g/g dry matter (DM) of flavonoids were extracted from raw EFSS by choline chloride/lactic acid ([ChCl][LA]) DES combined with ultrasonic treatment under optimized conditions (water content of 30 %, L/S ratio of 25:1, 180 W, 70 °C, and 120 min), and the extracted flavonoids demonstrated multiple antioxidant activities. Meanwhile, the considerable cellulose, xylan and lignin were retained in the solids, with recovery yields of 84.9 %, 89.0 % and 89.8 %, respectively. Then, lignin (0.31 g/g DM) was isolated from the filtered solids by [ChCl][LA] treatment at 110 °C for 90 min. The retained cellulose and xylan in the residue were utilized through simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) by Bacillus coagulans , achieving 88.3 g/L of L -lactic acid from EFSS biomass with a yield of 0.25 g/g. This study provides an innovative fractionation process for efficient cascade valorization of EFSS into valuable products. • A holistic lignocellulosic·biorefinery approach·was used for valorization of EFSS. • Co-production of flavonoids, lignin and L -lactic acid·was achieved from·EFSS. • 0.18, 0.31 and 0.25 g/g DM of flavonoids, lignin and L -lactic acid were produced.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.122377