Introducing molasses as an alternative feedstock into itaconate production using Ustilago sp.

In this work, we established an efficient process for the production of itaconate from the regionally sourced industrial side-stream molasses using Ustilago cynodontis and Ustilago maydis. While being relatively cheap and more environmentally friendly than refined sugars, there are some major challenges to overcome when working with molasses. Some of those challenges are a high nitrogen load, unknown impurities in the feedstock, and high amounts of ill-favoured carbon sources, such as sucrose or lactate. We could show that the activity of the sucrose-hydrolysing enzyme invertase plays a crucial role in the efficiency of the process and that the fructose utilisation differs between the two strains used in this work. Thus, with a higher invertase activity, the ability to convert fructose into the desired product itaconate, and an overall higher tolerance towards undesired substances in molasses, U. maydis is better equipped for the process on the alternative feedstock molasses than U. cynodontis. The established process with U. maydis reached competitive yields of up to 0.38 g g-1 and a titre of more than 37 g L-1. This shows that an efficient and cost-effective itaconate production process is generally feasible using U. maydis, which has the potential to greatly increase the sustainability of industrial itaconate production.

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.