The lignocellulosic biomass valorisation is a central challenge of the bioeconomy transition, which passes through optimization of the entire value chain, from feedstock availability, sustainable conversion processes, to final target products. In this framework, the oleaginous yeasts represent a versatile tool to produce biobased chemicals and intermediates. They are flexible microbial factories able to grow on different side-stream carbon sources such as those deriving from lignocellulosic biomass, and this characteristic makes them excellent candidates for integrated biorefinery processes through the production of microbial lipids/oils. This work aims at a techno-economic analysis of a lignocellulosic biorefinery producing microbial oils by oleaginous yeasts (Lipomyces tetrasporus). The wheat straw residues were considered as the lignocellulosic feedstock thanks to a huge amount in the European territory. Experimental data obtained by a complete lab-scale 2G-sugars platform (steam explosion pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation) were used for the analysis until microbic growth. Commercial/literature data were considered for the lipids extraction and purification stages. An assessment of the mass and energy balances, equipment sizing, costs estimation was carried out with the main results showing a production cost of the microbial oil about 4 €/kg with the enzymes supply as the major cost contribution.

Techno-economic Analysis of a Lignocellulosic Biorefinery Producing Microbial Oils by Oleaginous Yeasts

Caporusso Antonio;
2022-01-01

Abstract

The lignocellulosic biomass valorisation is a central challenge of the bioeconomy transition, which passes through optimization of the entire value chain, from feedstock availability, sustainable conversion processes, to final target products. In this framework, the oleaginous yeasts represent a versatile tool to produce biobased chemicals and intermediates. They are flexible microbial factories able to grow on different side-stream carbon sources such as those deriving from lignocellulosic biomass, and this characteristic makes them excellent candidates for integrated biorefinery processes through the production of microbial lipids/oils. This work aims at a techno-economic analysis of a lignocellulosic biorefinery producing microbial oils by oleaginous yeasts (Lipomyces tetrasporus). The wheat straw residues were considered as the lignocellulosic feedstock thanks to a huge amount in the European territory. Experimental data obtained by a complete lab-scale 2G-sugars platform (steam explosion pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation) were used for the analysis until microbic growth. Commercial/literature data were considered for the lipids extraction and purification stages. An assessment of the mass and energy balances, equipment sizing, costs estimation was carried out with the main results showing a production cost of the microbial oil about 4 €/kg with the enzymes supply as the major cost contribution.
2022
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
107.pdf

solo utenti autorizzati

Licenza: DRM non definito
Dimensione 1.04 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.04 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11563/193940
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 14
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact