Bioreactor production of 2,3-butanediol by Pantoea agglomerans using soybean hull acid hydrolysate as substrate.

Production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) by Pantoea agglomerans strain BL1 was investigated using soybean hull hydrolysate as substrate in batch reactors. The cultivation media consisted of a mixture of xylose, arabinose, and glucose, obtained from the hemicellulosic fraction of the soybean hull biomass. We evaluated the influence of oxygen supply, pH control, and media supplementation on the growth kinetics of the microorganism and on 2,3-BD production. P. agglomerans BL1 was able to simultaneously metabolize all three monosaccharides present in the broth, with average conversions of 75% after 48 h of cultivation. The influence of aeration conditions employed demonstrated the mixed acid pathway of 2,3-BD formation by enterobacteria. Under fully aerated conditions (2 vvm of air), up to 14.02 g L-1 of 2.3-BD in 12 h of cultivation were produced, corresponding to yields of 0.53 g g-1 and a productivity of 1.17 g L-1 h-1, the best results achieved. These results suggest the production potential of 2,3-BD by P. agglomerans BL1, which has been recently isolated from an environmental consortium. The present work proposes a solution for the usage of the hemicellulosic fraction of agroindustry biomasses, carbohydrates whose utilization are not commonly addressed in bioprocess.

Screening of filamentous fungi to produce xylanase and xylooligosaccharides in submerged and solid-state cultivations on rice husk, soybean hull, and spent malt as substrates.

We investigated the enzymatic complex produced by selected fungi strains isolated from the environment using the agro-industrial residues rice husk, soybean hull, and spent malt as substrates. Microbial growth was carried out in solid-state cultivation (SSC) and in submerged cultivations (SC) and the enzymatic activities of xylanase, cellulase, ß-xylosidase, and ß-glucosidase were determined. All substrates were effective in inducing enzymatic activities, with one strain of Aspergillus brasiliensis BLf1 showing maximum activities for all enzymes, except for cellulases. Using this fungus, the enzymatic activities of xylanase, cellulase, and ß-glucosidase were generally higher in SSC compared to SC, producing maxima activities of 120.5, 25.3 and 47.4 U g-1 of dry substrate, respectively. ß-xylosidase activity of 28.1 U g-1 of dry substrate was highest in SC. Experimental design was carried out to optimize xylanase activity by A. brasiliensis BLf1 in SSC using rice husk as substrate, producing maximum xylanase activity 183.5 U g-1 dry substrate, and xylooligosaccharides were produced and characterized. These results suggest A. brasiliensis BLf1 can be used to produce important lytic enzymes to be applied in the preparation of xylooligosaccharides.

Biosynthesis of 1,3-propanodiol and 2,3-butanodiol from residual glycerol in continuous cell-immobilized Klebsiella pneumoniae bioreactors.

In recent years, residual glycerol from biodiesel synthesis made this chemical a cheap, readily available carbon source to bioprocess, which is also a form to reduce costs in the fuel industry. We propose and describe a bioprocess using fluidized and packed-bed continuous bioreactors to convert this residual glycerol into value-added products such as 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD), largely used in the chemical industry. The bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae BLh-1, strain isolated by us, was immobilized in the permeable support of polyvinyl alcohol (LentiKats®). After testing different dilution rates (D) for all bioreactor configurations, the best obtained productivities of 1,3-PD was 8.69 g L-1  h-1 at a D = 0.45 h-1 , and 2.99 g L-1  h-1 at a D = 0.30 h-1 for 2,3-BD, both in the packed-bed configuration. In the fluidized-bed reactor, the highest productivity values achieved were 4.48 and 1.16 g L-1  h-1 for 1,3-PD and 2,3-BD, respectively, both at D = 0.33 h-1 . These results show the potential of setting up a bioprocess based on continuous cultures using immobilized K. pneumoniae BLh-1 in PVA matrices in order to efficiently convert the abundant surplus of glycerol into commercially important chemicals such as 1,3-PD and 2,3-BD.

Biodiesel residual glycerol metabolism by Klebsiella pneumoniae: pool of metabolites under anaerobiosis and oxygen limitation as a function of feeding rates.

The metabolism of residual glycerol from biodiesel synthesis by Klebsiella pneumoniae BLh-1 was investigated in this study. Batch and fed-batch cultivations were performed in bioreactors under anaerobic and oxygen limitation conditions. Results of batch cultivations showed that the main product was 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) in both conditions, although the higher yields and productivities (0.46 mol mol(-1) glycerol and 1.22 g L(-1) h(-1), respectively) were obtained under anaerobic condition. Large amounts of ethanol were also produced under batch anaerobic condition, peaking at 12.30 g L(-1). Batch cultivations under oxygen limitation were characterized by faster growth kinetics, with higher biomass production but lower conversions of glycerol into 1,3-PD, with yields and productivities of 0.33 mol mol(-1) glycerol and 0.99 g L(-1) h(-1), respectively. The fed-batch cultivations were carried out in order to investigate the effects of feeding of raw glycerol on cells. Fed-batch under anaerobiosis showed that 1,3-PD and ethanol concentrations increased with the feeding rate, with maximal productions of 26.12 and 19.2 g L(-1), respectively. The oxygen limitation conditions diverted the bacterium metabolism to an elevated lactic acid formation, reaching 59 g L(-1) in higher feeding rates of glycerol, but lowering the production of ethanol.

Biological evaluation of mechanically deboned chicken meat protein hydrolysate

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological properties of a protein hydrolysate obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of mechanically deboned chicken meat. METHODS: Mechanically deboned chicken meat was hydrolysed using Alcalase 2.4 L FG and then dried in a spray-drier. Three groups (n=6) of male Wistar rats received diets containing casein, mechanically deboned chicken meat protein hydrolysate and a protein-free diet. The rats were randomly assigned to individual cages with controlled temperature (22ºC) for 12 days. RESULTS: The mechanically deboned chicken meat diet resulted in a good net protein utilization (3.74) and high true digestibility (96 percent). The amino acid composition of the hydrolysate was relatively well balanced, but the concentrations of methionine and cystine were low, making them the limiting amino acids. The proximate chemical composition of the hydrolysate showed protein content to be as high as 62 percent. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this work suggest that mechanically deboned chicken meat hydrolysate can be used as a protein enhancer in food preparations such as enteral formulations, and as an edible protein enhancer in general applications.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a qualidade biológica da proteína hidrolisada obtida a partir da carne mecanicamente separada de frango. MÉTODOS: A carne mecanicamente separada de frango foi hidrolisada com a enzima Alcalase 2,4 L FG e o hidrolisado obtido foi submetido a secagem em atomizador. Foram utilizados três grupos (n=6) de ratos machos Wistar os quais receberam dietas contendo caseína, proteína hidrolisada de carne mecanicamente separada de frango ou uma dieta com proteína livre. Os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em gaiolas individuais, com temperatura controlada (22ºC), por um período de 12 dias. RESULTADOS: A dieta utilizando carne mecanicamente separada de frango resultou em elevada utilização líquida de proteína (3,74) e elevada digestibilidade verdadeira (96 por cento). A composição de aminoácidos da proteína hidrolisada apresentou bons resultados, embora metionina e cistina tenham apresentado baixos valores, sendo considerados aminoácidos limitantes. A composição química mostrou altos valores de proteína no hidrolisado obtido (62 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho sugerem que a proteína hidrolisada de carne mecanicamente separada de frango poderá ser utilizada como um suplemento em formulações alimentares, tais como formulações enterais, ou como fonte de complementação protéica na indústria de alimentos em geral.