Unlocking the Potential of Solid-state Fermentation with Insights Into Organic Waste Selection and Thermal Dynamics for Sustainable Sophorolipids Production

Abstract

Solid State Fermentation (SSF) is proposed as an emergent technology in the transformation of organic solid waste into diverse valuable products, playing a key role in creating new value chains for the development of the circular bioeconomy. Sophorolipids are a glycolipid type of biosurfactants, and their production has been proven feasible through SSF. However, the commercialization and scale-up of SSF presents some challenges, among others, the adaptation to a variable feedstock (different types of waste, heterogeneity, seasonality, etc.); or the heat transfer limitations leading to temperature rise over optimal values for the microorganisms’ growth. Understanding the potential of various types of waste and their complementarity is crucial for designing an optimal solid matrix and defining an efficient SSF process with high productivities and potential scalability.