A review of enzymes and microbes for lignocellulosic biorefinery and the possibility of their application to consolidated bioprocessing technology

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-05, Vol.135, p.513-522
• Main Authors: Hasunuma, Tomohisa, Okazaki, Fumiyoshi, Okai, Naoko, Hara, Kiyotaka Y., Ishii, Jun, Kondo, Akihiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria - metabolism; Biomass; Bioprocessing; Biorefinery; Biotechnology - methods; Cellulase; Cellulase - metabolism; Consolidated bioprocessing; Consolidation; Ethyl alcohol; Fermentation; Fungi - metabolism; Lignin - metabolism; Lignocellulose; Microorganisms; Refining
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.047

► Biorefinery approaches produce fuels and chemicals through biomass conversion. ► Consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulose is desired for effective biorefinery. ► This review focuses on the development of microbes for consolidated bioprocessing. ► The production of bio-based chemicals and advances fuels is emphasized. The biorefinery manufacturing process for producing chemicals and liquid fuels from biomass is a promising approach for securing energy and resources. To establish cost-effective fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass, the consolidation of sacccharification and fermentation processes is a desirable strategy, but requires the development of microorganisms capable of cellulose/hemicellulose hydrolysis and target chemical production. Such an endeavor requires a large number of prerequisites to be realized, including engineering microbial strains with high cellulolytic activity, high product yield, productivities, and titers, ability to use many carbon sources, and resistance to toxic compounds released during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. Researchers have focused on either engineering naturally cellulolytic microorganisms to improve product-related properties or modifying non-cellulolytic organisms with high product yields to become cellulolytic. This article reviews recent advances in the development of microorganisms for the production of renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels, as well as ethanol, from lignocellulosic materials through consolidated bioprocessing.