Valorization of Corn Cobs for Xylitol and Bioethanol Production through Column Reactor Process

Felipe A. F. Antunes, Jade B. F. Freitas, Carina A. Prado, Maria J. Castro-Alonso, Erick Diaz-Ruiz, Alain E. Mera, Júlio C. Santos and Silvio S. da Silva ()
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Felipe A. F. Antunes: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Jade B. F. Freitas: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Carina A. Prado: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Maria J. Castro-Alonso: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Erick Diaz-Ruiz: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Alain E. Mera: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Júlio C. Santos: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil
Silvio S. da Silva: Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Lorena 12602-810, SP, Brazil

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: 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 Candida tropicalis UFMGBX12-a. The Y P/S (yield coefficient of product to substrate) and Q P (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 Scheffersomyces parashehatae 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 P 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.

Keywords: corncobs; column reactor; xylitol; ethanol (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: 2023
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