Influence of microbial biomass content on biodegradation and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites.

Biodegradation rates and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) composites with green algae and cyanobacteria were investigated for the first time. To the authors knowledge, the addition of microbial biomass led to the biggest observed effect on biodegradation so far. The composites with microbial biomass showed an acceleration of the biodegradation rate and a higher cumulative biodegradation within 132 days compared to PHB or the biomass alone. In order to determine the causes for the faster biodegradation, the molecular weight, the crystallinity, the water uptake, the microbial biomass composition and scanning electron microscope images were assessed. The molecular weight of the PHB in the composites was lower than that of pure PHB while the crystallinity and microbial biomass composition were the same for all samples. A direct correlation of water uptake and crystallinity with biodegradation rate could not be observed. While the degradation of molecular weight of PHB during sample preparation contributed to the improvement of biodegradation, the main reason was attributed to biostimulation by the added biomass. The resulting enhancement of the biodegradation rate appears to be unique in the field of polymer biodegradation. The tensile strength was lowered, elongation at break remained constant and Young's modulus was increased compared to pure PHB.

Biosynthesis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate from grass silage by a two-stage fermentation process based on an integrated biorefinery concept.

Grass silage as a renewable feedstock for an integrated biorefinery includes nutrients and carbon sources directly available in the press juice (PJ) and in lignocellulosic saccharides from the plant framework. Here, a novel two-stage fed-batch fermentation process for biosynthesis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) by Cupriavidus necator DSM 531 is presented. For bacterial growth, nutrient-rich PJ was employed as a fermentation medium, without any supplements. Saccharides derived from the mechano-enzymatic hydrolysis of the press cake (PC) were subjected to a lactic acid fermentation process, before the fermentation products were fed into the polymer accumulation phase. By combination of pH-stat feeding and cell recycling, the PHB content in 22 g L-1 total-dry cells reached 39% after 32 h of cultivation. Using mimicked hydrolyzate of diluted PJ artificially supplemented with glucose and xylose, the resulting cell dry weight of 21 g L-1 contained 42% PHB.

Dataset on the structural characterization of organosolv lignin obtained from ensiled Poaceae grass and load-dependent molecular weight changes during thermoplastic processing.

This article presents experimental data of organosolv lignin from Poacea grass and structural changes after compounding and injection molding as presented in the research article "Effects of high-lignin-loading on thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of bioplastic composites" [1]. It supplements the article with morphological (SEM), spectroscopic (31P NMR, FT-IR) and chromatographic (GPC, EA) data of the starting lignin as well as molar mass characteristics (mass average molar mass (Mw) and Polydispersity (D)) of the extracted lignin. Refer to Schwarz et al. [2] for a detailed description of the production of the organosolv residue and for further information on the raw material used for lignin extraction. The dataset is made publicly available and can be useful for extended lignin research and critical analyzes.

Deacidification of grass silage press juice by continuous production of acetoin from its lactate via an immobilized enzymatic reaction cascade.

An immobilized enzymatic reaction cascade was designed and optimized for the deacidification of grass silage press juice (SPJ), thus facilitating the production of bio-based chemicals. The cascade involves a three-step process using four enzymes immobilized in a Ca-alginate gel and uses lactic acid to form acetoin, a value-added product. The reaction is performed with a continuous, pH-dependent substrate feed under oxygenation. With titrated lactic acid yields of up to 91% and reaction times of ca. 6h was achieved. Using SPJ as titrant yields of 49% were obtained within 6h. In this deacidification process, with acetoin one value-added bio-based chemical is produced while simultaneously the remaining press juice can be used in applications that require a higher pH. Such, this system can be applied in a multi-product biorefinery concept to take full advantage of nutrient-rich SPJ, which is a widely available and easily storable renewable resource.

Integrated biorefinery concept for grass silage using a combination of adapted pulping methods for advanced saccharification and extraction of lignin.

An integrated refining and pulping process for ensiled biomass from permanent grassland was established on laboratory scale. The liquid phase, containing the majority of water-soluble components, including 24% of the initial dry matter (DM), was first separated by mechanical pressing. The fiber fraction was subjected to high solid load saccharification (25% DM) to enhance the lignin content in the feed for subsequent organosolvation. The saccharification enzymes were pre-selected applying experimental design approaches. Cellulose convertibility was improved by a secondary pressing step during liquefaction. Combined saccharification and organosolvation showed high degree of saccharide solubilization with recovery of 98% of the glucan and 73% of the xylan from the fiber fraction in the hydrolysates, and enabled the recovery of 41% of the grass silage lignin. The effects of the treatment were confirmed by XRD and SEM tracking of cellulose crystallinity and fiber morphology throughout the pulping procedure.

Analysis of lignocellulose derived phenolic monomers by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography.

A headspace solid-phase microextraction method with subsequent GC-MS (HS-SPME/GC-MS) was established for the quantitative analysis of volatile lignin derived phenolic monomers in complex aqueous solutions. Extraction was done using a polyacrylate fiber. The optimization of HS-SPME - parameters was performed using a multi component model solution of six representative phenolic monomers identified in liquid hot water (LHW) supernatants of hydrothermally treated lignocellulosic biomass: p-coumaric acid, guaiacol, vanillin, acetosyringone, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetone, and acetophenone. Plackett-Burman design was applied for pre-evaluation and 2(3) central composite designs with star points for parameter optimization. LOQ (S/N>10) and LOD (S/N>3) were determined for 12 phenols yielding LOQ of <0.005-618nM and LOD of <0.005-412nM. Within-day and between-day tests (n=6) showed different results for the tested phenols. RSD ranged from 2% to 30% and recovery rates from 99% to 160% in LHW matrix. Tests on storage of LHW supernatants for several weeks indicated a considerable influence of temperature on the stability of the solutions which may even have to be taken into account for auto sampler handling. All in all the method allows a fast and solvent free analysis requiring low sample volumes making it a powerful tool for screening or high-throughput analysis of aqueous solutions of lignin derived aromatics.

Enhanced fed-batch fermentation of 2,3-butanediol by Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 365.

Fed-batch fermentations for the production of 2,3-butanediol (BDL) with Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 365 were investigated in 2-L-fermenters. A suitable micro-aerobic set-up enabled high product selectivity of up to 98% R,R-BDL towards meso-BDL and acetoin. Up to 111 g L(-1)R,R-BDL within 54 h could be achieved with sufficient supply of complex medium (yeast extract). To the best of the knowledge of the authors, this is the highest titer so far reported for P. polymyxa indicating its high potential as a non pathogenic BDL-producer. Fermentation in low nutritional medium (5 g L(-1) yeast extract) yielded up to 72 g L(-1) BDL+acetoin (79% R,R-BDL), yet was affected by formation of exopolysaccharides (EPS). In the range of 30-40°C EPS formation decreased with raising temperature although growth rate and BDL-production remained similar. Additionally, Tween80® was found to be a good additive to reduce viscosity caused by EPS.

Removal of monomer delignification products by laccase from Trametes versicolor.

The influence of a laccase from Trametes versicolor on the removal of phenolic monomers in liquid hot water pretreated wheat straw supernatants (LHW-S) was examined. Beside the total phenol content derived by Folin-Ciocalteu (FC-) assay, phenolic monomers were measured via headspace-solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME)/GC-MS. A notable decrease of the phenols was achieved using 0.2 and 0.5 U/mL laccase whilst higher dosage showed no improvement. Nearly all kind of monomer phenolic compounds identified in the LHW-S were found to be removed after 24h. However, acetophenone and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HBA) were obviously not affected by laccase. Summarizing, three laccase reaction groups (LRG) of phenolic monomers could be classified: immediate removal (LRG-A), degradation after 1 day (LRG-B), no effect of laccase (LRG-C). Additionally, HS-SPME/GC was found to be a powerful tool to study the reaction of laccase and phenolic monomers in complex lignocellulose derived solutions.