Production of Itaconic Acid from Cellulose Pulp: Feedstock Feasibility and Process Strategies for an Efficient Microbial Performance

Abraham A. J. Kerssemakers, Pablo Doménech, Marco Cassano, Celina K. Yamakawa, Giuliano Dragone and Solange I. Mussatto
Additional contact information
Abraham A. J. Kerssemakers: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Pablo Doménech: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Marco Cassano: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Celina K. Yamakawa: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Giuliano Dragone: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Solange I. Mussatto: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: This study assessed the feasibility of using bleached cellulose pulp from Eucalyptus wood as a feedstock for the production of itaconic acid by fermentation. Additionally, different process strategies were tested with the aim of selecting suitable conditions for an efficient production of itaconic acid by the fungus Aspergillus terreus . The feasibility of using cellulose pulp was demonstrated through assays that revealed the preference of the strain in using glucose as carbon source instead of xylose, mannose, sucrose or glycerol. Additionally, the cellulose pulp was easily digested by enzymes without requiring a previous step of pretreatment, producing a glucose-rich hydrolysate with a very low level of inhibitor compounds, suitable for use as a fermentation medium. Fermentation assays revealed that the technique used for sterilization of the hydrolysate (membrane filtration or autoclaving) had an important effect in its composition, especially on the nitrogen content, consequently affecting the fermentation performance. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio), initial glucose concentration and oxygen availability, were also important variables affecting the performance of the strain to produce itaconic acid from cellulose pulp hydrolysate. By selecting appropriate process conditions (sterilization by membrane filtration, medium supplementation with 3 g/L (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 60 g/L of initial glucose concentration, and oxygen availability of 7.33 (volume of air/volume of medium)), the production of itaconic acid was maximized resulting in a yield of 0.62 g/g glucose consumed, and productivity of 0.52 g/L·h.

Keywords: lignocellulosic biomass; cellulose pulp; hydrolysis; oxygen availability; C:N ratio; fermentation; biorefinery; itaconic acid; Aspergillus terreus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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