MaxBio - Maximizing Conversion Yields in Biorefining
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Biology
Abstract
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Technical Summary
MaxBio will improve conversion yields from plant biomass into biofuel and chemical products, focusing on sugar production, sugar release and sugar conversion. By taking an holistic approach to increase yields across the whole process, and deploying novel multifactorial experimental design to combine improvements at various stages, we aim to transform process economics for biorefining. Targeting industrially relevant products including fuel butanol, expert UK academics will improve conversion yields at each processing step but more critically optimise yields across the entire process chain. Project deliverables include integrated process concepts for target products that have been validated at bench-scale. We will first maximise sugar yields from cereal straw, then optimise yields for novel pre-treatment, saccharification and fermentation technologies. Finally we will determine process economics, calculate reductions in greenhouse gas emissons and quantify societal benefits.
Planned Impact
As described in proposal submitted to IUK
Publications
Acevedo A
(2019)
Sudangrass, an alternative lignocellulosic feedstock for bioenergy in Argentina.
in PloS one
Calderini DF
(2021)
Overcoming the trade-off between grain weight and number in wheat by the ectopic expression of expansin in developing seeds leads to increased yield potential.
in The New phytologist
Gómez L
(2017)
Valorising faba bean residual biomass: Effect of farming system and planting time on the potential for biofuel production
in Biomass and Bioenergy
Mota TR
(2021)
Design of experiments driven optimization of alkaline pretreatment and saccharification for sugarcane bagasse.
in Bioresource technology
Oliveira DM
(2019)
Designing xylan for improved sustainable biofuel production.
in Plant biotechnology journal
Oliveira DM
(2020)
Cell wall remodeling under salt stress: Insights into changes in polysaccharides, feruloylation, lignification, and phenolic metabolism in maize.
in Plant, cell & environment
Ostos Garrido FJ
(2018)
Biomass recalcitrance in barley, wheat and triticale straw: Correlation of biomass quality with classic agronomical traits.
in PloS one
Rezende CA
(2018)
Optimization of biomass pretreatments using fractional factorial experimental design.
in Biotechnology for biofuels
Silva M
(2022)
Valuable chemicals identified from Flourensia species using vacuum and analytical pyrolysis
in Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
Whitehead C
(2018)
A glycosyl transferase family 43 protein involved in xylan biosynthesis is associated with straw digestibility in Brachypodium distachyon.
in The New phytologist
Zhu Z
(2020)
Comparative evaluation of microwave-assisted acid, alkaline, and inorganic salt pretreatments of sugarcane bagasse for sugar recovery
in Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
Zhu Z
(2021)
Thermochemical pretreatments of maize stem for sugar recovery: Comparative evaluation of microwave and conventional heating
in Industrial Crops and Products
| Description | We have demonstrated that a mild alkaline pretreatment is the most effective one for facilitating the enzymatic saccharification of barley straw. We have trialled a series of suppliments to commercial cellulase cocktails and identified the most effective combinations for the saccharification of barley straw. Taking this combinatorial approach has proved very effective and we are applying this knowledge and approach to other feedstock in other projects such as Omnivore and our Newton Bhabha Industrial Waste project. Our work is leading the way to cost-effective low energy pretreatments and lower enzyme use in biomass processing. |
| Exploitation Route | This work can underpin the development of a biorefinery based on barley, and other cereal straw. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | Our work has led to substantial improvements in the efficiency of pretreatments and enzymatic hydrolysis of cereal straw, allowing us to produce hydrolysates with over 10% fermentable sugar content paving the way to cost-effective straw processing. this work has helped us to obtain additional funding (follow-on funding and Newton Bhabha) and closer associations with companies that can commercialise our work including, Wilson Biochemical, Jesmond Engineering, Prozomics and Natems Sugar Holdings. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Newton Bhabha UK India collaboration award |
| Organisation | International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | MaxBio optimisation of pretreatments and ezymatic hydrolysis of barley contributed to develop the parameters needed for establishing a process to produce lignocellulosic derived sugars from sugarcane bagasse in this UK-India project. These pretreatments were designed for a full scale plant that would ferment the sugars obtained into citric acid. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This collaboration involved the development of enzymes cocktails with ICGEB in India and academic and industrial partners in the UK. Natems sugars, a sugar producer in India was the industrial partner interested in the processing of bagasse and fermentation to citric acid. |
| Impact | -Low energy and low CAPEX pretreatment of bagasse -Low amounts of waste produced in the process -Novel enzyme cocktails -Improved Aspergillus strains |
| Start Year | 2018 |