Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorization

A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 3147

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas Street 1, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
Interests: bioactive compounds from fungi and mushrooms; microbial conversion of lignin; biotechnology of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Interests: yeast cytology; yeast physiology; yeast biotechnology; yeast response to stress treatments; intracellular protective reactions; dehydration-rehydration of microorganisms; anhydrobiosis; bioconversion of lignocellulose
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignocellulosic biomass represents the most abundant, renewable, globally available, and potent resource for producing valuable products such as biofuels, bioactive compounds, and biomaterials through fermentation. Virtually anything presently derived from oil can be sourced from lignocellulosic biomass. The challenge for researchers lies in developing innovative, environmentally friendly methods and technologies for fractionating and converting cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from agricultural residues, forestry wastes, dedicated energy crops, and various other lignocellulose-containing waste materials into sustainable and commercially viable products. Technologies enabling the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass play a crucial role in minimizing carbon emissions and fostering the development of a circular bioeconomy.

The aim of the Special Issue, titled "Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorization", is to showcase innovative research and advancements in sustainable fermentation-based technologies for converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-value-added and novel products.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. Technological innovations in the pretreatment and processing of lignocellulosic biomass to enhance the bioavailability of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin;
  2. Development of novel approaches in fermentation technology to improve product yield and biomass conversion efficiency;
  3. Pathways and processes for developing novel bio-based products through the microbiological transformation of lignocellulosic biomass;
  4. Economic analyses evaluating the economic viability and environmental impact of fermentation technologies for biomass valorization.

Prof. Indrikis Muiznieks
Prof. Dr. Alexander Rapoport
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fermentation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • lignocellulosic biomass
  • integrated bioprocess
  • bioactive compounds
  • separation and purification
  • bacterial, yeast, and fungal strain development
  • cellulases and laccases
  • assessment of fermentation product activity

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 3549 KiB  
Article
Two-Stage Bioconversion of Cellulose to Single-Cell Protein and Oil via a Cellulolytic Consortium
by Eric Charles Peterson, Christian Hermansen, Ashriel Yong, Rowanne Siao, Gi Gi Chua, Sherilyn Ho, Coleen Toledo Busran, Megan Teo, Aaron Thong, Melanie Weingarten and Nic Lindley
Fermentation 2025, 11(2), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11020072 (registering DOI) - 2 Feb 2025
Viewed by 273
Abstract
A novel approach for converting non-edible plant biomass into single-cell protein and oil (SCPO) via consolidated bioprocessing has been established, leveraging aerotolerant thermophilic cellulolytic consortia consisting mainly of Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, Sporolactobacillus spp. and Clostridium sensu stricto to achieve the rapid and complete [...] Read more.
A novel approach for converting non-edible plant biomass into single-cell protein and oil (SCPO) via consolidated bioprocessing has been established, leveraging aerotolerant thermophilic cellulolytic consortia consisting mainly of Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, Sporolactobacillus spp. and Clostridium sensu stricto to achieve the rapid and complete conversion of crystalline cellulose into a consistent cocktail of lactate, acetate and ethanol. This cocktail is an excellent substrate for cultivating organisms for SCPO production and food and feed applications, including Cyberlindnera jadinii, Yarrowia lipolytica and Corynebacterium glutamicum. Cultivation on this cocktail resulted in yields (YX/S) of up to 0.43 ± 0.012 g/g, indicating a yield from cellulose (YX/Cellulose) of up to 0.27 ± 0.007 g/g (dwb). The resulting SCPO was rich in protein (42.5% to 57.9%), essential amino acids (27.8% to 43.2%) and lipids (7.9% to 8.4%), with unsaturated fatty acid fractions of up to 89%. Unlike fermentation feedstocks derived from easily digested feedstocks (i.e., food waste), this approach has been applied to cellulosic biomass, and this mixed-culture bioconversion can be carried out without adding expensive enzymes. This two-stage cellulosic bioconversion can unlock non-edible plant biomass as an untapped feedstock for food and feed production, with the potential to strengthen resiliency and circularity in food systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorization)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1893 KiB  
Article
Cellulose Nanofibers as Rheological Modifiers to Improve Biomass Slurry Processing and Fermentation
by Zachary Jamieson, Jordi Francis Clar and Troy Runge
Fermentation 2024, 10(12), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10120626 - 8 Dec 2024
Viewed by 692
Abstract
This study investigates the enhancement of biomass slurry processability through the addition of rheological modifiers, focusing on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and TEMPO-mediated oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TCNF). Three sets of experiments were conducted to assess the effects of these additives on slurry processing and [...] Read more.
This study investigates the enhancement of biomass slurry processability through the addition of rheological modifiers, focusing on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and TEMPO-mediated oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TCNF). Three sets of experiments were conducted to assess the effects of these additives on slurry processing and fermentation. Initial experiments evaluated the slurry extrudability, concluding that TCNF aids extrusion similarly to CMC. Subsequent experiments explored slurry viscosity reduction mechanisms, revealing that while CMC significantly reduced the viscosity, TCNF’s impact is negligible. Additionally, TCNF performed comparably to CMC in water retention tests across different conditions, which suggests that TCNF have potential as an effective additive for maintaining slurry fluidity at high solid concentrations through enhanced water retention. Lastly, both additives were investigated to ensure that they did not impact hydrolyzed biomass fermentation. The findings suggest that TCNF’s mechanisms differ from those of traditional water-soluble polymers like CMC, offering insights into novel approaches to improve the biomass processing efficiency and subsequent fermentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorization)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 619 KiB  
Article
Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant Capacity of the Stages of Lignocellulosic Ethanol Production from Amazonian Fruit Industrial Waste
by Gabriela Vieira Pantoja and Johnatt Allan Rocha de Oliveira
Fermentation 2024, 10(10), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10100496 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1224
Abstract
Abstract: The production of ethanol from wastes resulting from the process of growing Amazonian fruit is a little-explored approach, in which unknown chemical compounds are released with potential for industrial application. This work aimed to produce lignocellulosic ethanol from waste from Amazonian fruit [...] Read more.
Abstract: The production of ethanol from wastes resulting from the process of growing Amazonian fruit is a little-explored approach, in which unknown chemical compounds are released with potential for industrial application. This work aimed to produce lignocellulosic ethanol from waste from Amazonian fruit farming and to chemically characterize the stages of the process. The wastes (açaí seeds, mango peel, and peach palm peel) were pretreated with 1% to 5% H2SO4 and 15% solids; the resulting solid fraction was enzymatically hydrolyzed with cellulase at 20 FPU, and the liquid fraction (liqueurs) and enzymatic and fermented hydrolysates produced were chemically characterized. Via HPLC for sugars and fermentation inhibitors, we determined the antioxidant capacities and total phenolic compounds. The liquors from the pretreatment of açaí seeds released the most significant amount of glucose, while in the hydrolyzed solid fractions, the mango peel produced the highest glucose content. Among the fermented liquors, the highest ethanol content was the açaí seed at 15 and 5% (0.183–0.276 g/L). High glucose levels were produced (0.09–25.05 g/L) and provided ethanol levels that can be improved (0.061–10.62 g/L), in addition to liquors and hydrolysates with interesting amounts of phenolic compounds (14.04–131.87 mg EAG/g DM) and high antioxidant capacities (417.78–2774.07 mmol TEAC/g), demonstrating that these wastes can have other applications in addition to ethanol production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorization)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop