Tandem integration of aerobic fungal cellulase production, lignocellulose substrate saccharification and anaerobic ethanol fermentation by a modified gas lift bioreactor

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 302; p. 122902
• Main Authors: Xue, Dongsheng, Yao, Donghai, Sukumaran, Rajeev Kumar, You, Xihuo, Wei, Zhenbang, Gong, Chunjie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Anaerobiosis; Aspergillus niger; Bioethanol; Bioreactors; Cellulase; Ethanol; Fermentation; Gas lift bioreactor; Lignin; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Bioethanol; Gas lift bioreactor; Cellulase; Aspergillus niger; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122902

•Cellulase production, substrate saccharification and ethanol production was integrated.•By the integration, biothanol production was over 45.9 g/L for 48 h.•A. niger immobilized in the gas lift bioreactor efficiently produced cellulase.•Saccharification and bioethanol production was adaptable to cellulase production. Cellulase production, lignocellulose saccharification and bioethanol fermentation were integrated to efficiently produce bioethanol. A modified gas lift bioreactor was developed for bioethanol production by the integrated process. Cellulase production was achieved using Aspergillus niger mycelia immobilized within the reactor in wire meshes, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were immobilized in resin beads. During four repeated batches fermentation, cellulase activities were more than 6.28 U/mL and bioethanol production was over 45.9 g/L for 48 h. The factual bioethanol conversion efficiency was 86.8%. By the modification of the modified gas lift bioreactor, immobilization of Aspergillus niger mycelia and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, aerobic cellulase production, substrate saccharification and anaerobic bioethanol fermentation were successfully integrated in tandem. The integrated processes is of great significance in bioethanol production.