The outlooks and key challenges in renewable biomass feedstock utilization for value-added platform chemical via bioprocesses
Panwana Khunnonkwao,
Sitanan Thitiprasert,
Phetcharat Jaiaue,
Katsaya Khumrangsee,
Benjamas Cheirsilp,
Nuttha Thongchul
Affiliations
Panwana Khunnonkwao
Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Bioconversion and Bioseparation for Platform Chemical Production, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Sitanan Thitiprasert
Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Bioconversion and Bioseparation for Platform Chemical Production, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Corresponding author: Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Phetcharat Jaiaue
Center of Excellence in Bioconversion and Bioseparation for Platform Chemical Production, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Katsaya Khumrangsee
Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Bioconversion and Bioseparation for Platform Chemical Production, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Benjamas Cheirsilp
Center of Excellence in Innovative Biotechnology for Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
Nuttha Thongchul
Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Bioconversion and Bioseparation for Platform Chemical Production, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Corresponding author: Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
The conversion of renewable biomass feedstock into value-added products via bioprocessing platforms has become attractive because of environmental and health concerns. Process performance and cost competitiveness are major factors in the bioprocess design to produce desirable products from biomass feedstock. Proper pretreatment allows delignification and hemicellulose removal from the liquid fraction, allowing cellulose to be readily hydrolyzed to monomeric sugars. Several industrial products are produced via sugar fermentation using either naturally isolated or genetically modified microbes. Microbial platforms play an important role in the synthesis of several products, including drop-in chemicals, as-in products, and novel compounds. The key elements in developing a fermentation platform are medium formulation, sterilization, and active cells for inoculation. Downstream bioproduct recovery may seem like a straightforward chemical process, but is more complex, wherein cost competitiveness versus recovery performance becomes a challenge. This review summarizes the prospects for utilizing renewable biomass for bioprocessing.
