Trends in valorization of highly-toxic lignocellulosic biomass derived-compounds via engineered microbes

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2022-02, Vol.346, p.126614-126614, Article 126614
• Main Authors: Jayakody, Lahiru N., Chinmoy, Baroi, Turner, Timothy L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofunneling; Biomass; Catalysis; Chemo-biological valorization; Lignin; Metabolic Engineering; Platform chemicals; Tolerance engineering; Toxicant
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126614

[Display omitted] •Lignocellulosic biomass-derived chemicals pose toxicity on microbes.•Macromolecules protections are vital for tolerance engineering of microbes.•Key metabolic routes are highlighted to biofunnel biomass-derived toxic chemicals.•Robust synthetic microbes can valorize toxic chemicals to platform chemicals.•Bioconversion of toxic chemicals enhances economic benefits to biorefineries. Lignocellulosic biomass-derived fuels, chemicals, and materials are promising sustainable solutions to replace the current petroleum-based production. The direct microbial conversion of thermos-chemically pretreated lignocellulosic biomass is hampered by the presence of highly toxic chemical compounds. Also, thermo-catalytic upgrading of lignocellulosic biomass generates wastewater that contains heterogeneous toxic chemicals, a mixture of unutilized carbon. Metabolic engineering efforts have primarily focused on the conversion of carbohydrates in lignocellulose biomass; substantial opportunities exist to harness value from toxic lignocellulose-derived toxic compounds. This article presents the comprehensive metabolic routes and tolerance mechanisms to develop robust synthetic microbial cell factories to valorize the highly toxic compounds to advanced-platform chemicals. The obtained platform chemicals can be used to manufacture high-value biopolymers and biomaterials via a hybrid biochemical approach for replacing petroleum-based incumbents. The proposed strategy enables a sustainable bio-based materials economy by microbial biofunneling of lignocellulosic biomass-derived toxic molecules, an untapped biogenic carbon.