Biomass remaining after the processing or separation of the main products can be classified as lignocellulosic raw materials. This type of biomass, by applying the principle of biorefining and new biotechnological solutions, can be a source of bioenergy, raw material for synthesizing valuable chemical compounds and/or increasing the added value of feed after bioprocessing. However, biomass processing processes are quite complex, and when the chemical composition and physical properties of the lignocellulosic raw material change, different processing technological schemes can be applied. The processing of lignocellulosic biomass should be complex, related to the more efficient processing of secondary agro-raw materials and secondary products/waste of the food industry and the development of biotechnologies for their conversion into bioethanol, lactic acid and/or biogas and feed.
The project combines newly created scientific innovations, more efficient and sustainable processing and utilization of agro-raw materials (e.g. grain raw material damaged by Fusarium spp.) and food industry by-products and/or waste, applying already existing and developing new bioprocesses for biomass processing. In the project, special attention is paid to Fusarium spp. for the assessment of changes in the chemical composition, enzymatic activities, and germination of infected wheat and barley, for the selection of new bio-remedies (compositions of bioproducts and enzymatic preparations) that would ensure increased safety (detoxification of mycotoxins and increased germination of malted grains) and increase processing efficiency; creation of biotechnologies for the processing of secondary food industry products and/or waste into bioethanol, lactic acid, biogas and probiotic feed.
Project funding:
COST actions
Project results:
Various technologies for the conversion of plant biomass and lignocellulosic raw materials into bioethanol have been developed, applying them to the production of this type of biofuel. After evaluating the chemical composition of processed raw materials for the production of bioethanol, paying attention to the amounts of endoxylanase inhibitors, the plant biomass processing methods (enzymatic hydrolysis) and fermentation with the selected enzyme compositions and yeast were chosen. The influence of by Fusarium spp. (DON) contaminated grains on the alcoholic fermentation process (bioethanol, fuel oil formation) was analysed. It has been shown that the selection of lactic acis bacteria (LAB) strain with antimicrobial properties for the treatment of grains in combination with K. marxianus var. bulgaricus yeast, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the processing of infected cereal raw materials: the biomass can be used for bioethanol production, and the resulting husks can be used for feed. The project also investigated the possibilities of using such secondary products as wheat bran and malt for the production of lactic acid (LA). The results showed that LAB strain and substrate type had a statistically significant effect on LA yield. The formation of monosaccharides (glucose, xylose, mannose, and arabinose) that are fermented by various PRBs must undergo a multistep biochemical conversion. The lignocellulosic substrate must first be hydrolysed and then fermented, but hydrolysis and fermentation of polysaccharides can be carried out simultaneously. Disadvantages of the process are that production costs increase due to the additional use of enzymes and chemicals, and inhibitory compounds are formed during chemical hydrolysis that inhibit the activity of microorganisms during fermentation. Biogas production using various organic materials, including secondary products and/or waste from the food industry, is receiving more and more attention.
An one-stage anaerobic substrate decomposition scheme is usually used for biogas production, where all stages of the process take place simultaneously in one bioreactor. Such a method is not effective in order to increase the yield and purity of biogas. It is likely that dividing the anaerobic digestion process into two stages could have a positive effect on methane yield and degree of purity. Recently, the increased demand for LA encourages the optimization of the synthesis of this acid, using various substrates and microorganisms and modernizing the technological schemes of biogas production. The results obtained in the project suggest that secondary products of the dairy industry and/or waste containing lactose can be a suitable substrate for biogas production. Applying a two-stage biogas extraction technological scheme, when the LAB fermentation of the substrate is carried out in the acetogenesis stage, it is possible to achieve more efficient methane production during anaerobic processes. Biogas productio is a complex process that requires a balanced sequence of stages. Defining the kinetics of the process is difficult, since the hydrolysis of substrate compounds depends on many different parameters: particle size, enzyme activity, temperature and pH. By applying LAB fermentation during the acetogenesis stage, it is possible to facilitate substrate hydrolysis, control pH more easily, intensify the formation of volatile acids during acidogenesis, and shorten the duration of biogas production.
Processing by-products of the food industry into valuable products (chemicals, feed, etc.) is a priority in order to reduce climate change and improve the economy. By applying fermentation technologies with selected microorganisms, it is possible to effectively increase the nutritional value of feed made from by-products of the food industry and ensure safety indicators. The project developed plant-based feed and probiotic additives for feed production: (i) grain (wheat and barley) processing by-products; (ii) bioconversion of plant raw materials using antimicrobial microorganisms; (iii) developed bioproducts to improve the health and productivity of young cattle. Studies have shown that extruded cereal by-products are promising substrates for the production of safer fermented feedstock with high levels of viable LABs.
Period of project implementation: 2014-05-15 - 2018-05-14
Project partners: Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Columbia, Hong Kong, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United States of America, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Suomija, France, Greece
