BioENErgy from biomass and bio-oil Fermentation using mIcrobial Communities to produce Chemicals and Enzymes

ended

Although many efforts have been dedicated to the research and development of sustainable biorefineries, there are still some gaps to cover, especially to make chemicals production energetically efficient and rentable. The proposed route will combine a biotechnological and a thermochemical process, departing from low-cost raw materials like lignocellulosic biomass and environmental microbial communities to produce valuable chemicals. Bioplastics, enzymes, and lipids will be produced in a competitive biorefinery process. The project will be divided into two approaches, Approach 1 will study the fermentation of bio-oil, obtained from pyrolysis of waste biomass, to produce bioplastics, using microbial communities from contaminated environments. The scientific challenge (SC1) is to find a microbial community that can metabolize the chemicals present in bio-oil (including the toxic compounds) and produces bioplastics in one pot. Approach 2 will study the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass to produce fatty acids and enzymes that degrade the lignocellulose. The scientific challenge (SC2) is to find a microbial community that can degrade the lignocellulosic material without any pre-treatment, and that can metabolize the toxic chemicals produced during biomass fermentation. BENEFICCE project will develop new technology for the sustainable production of bioplastics, lipids, and enzymes. The resulting biorefinery process aims to be competitive by using low-cost raw material and having fewer process steps than other existent technologies. The training-through-research that the fellow will receive during the project, will result in an experienced research leader that will continue developing clean technologies in biorefinery and bioenergy, contributing to two of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations: Sustainable Production and Combat Climate Change.