Novel Process for Xylobiose and Ethanol Co-Production

To address Climate Change and reduce carbon emissions, microbial biorefineries that use lignocellulosic biomass as feed stock, are the most desirable substitutes for crude oil-based biorefineries. The cost-effectiveness of ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass remains the major hurdle in implementing second-generation biofuel technology.

Hydrolysis of xylan using crude secretome from fungal isolates for XOs production.

To address the climate change and reduce carbon emission microbial biorefineries, which uses lignocellulosic biomass as feed stock, are most desirable substitutes of crude oil based biorefineries. From last few decades cost effectiveness of ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass remans the major hurdle in implementation of second-generation biofuel technology. We address this issue by simultaneous production of ethanol and xylo-oligosaccharides in an integrated yeast plus fungi based biorefinery model. The present invention provides a consolidated biorefinery process for simultaneous production of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and ethanol from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) using a novel xylanase-producing Aspergillus fumigatus F25 strain. Optimized conditions result in 80% SCB hemicellulose hydrolysis, producing xylobiose (65.71%), XOS (16.71%), and monomeric sugars (17.55%). Purified xylobiose exhibits >96% purity, characterized via HPLC, ESI-MS, and NMR. Ethanol (109 g/L) is produced from SCB cellulose and molasses by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NGY10 yeast. This systematic approach enhances the viability of a commercially successful biorefinery.

Techno-economic analysis of this technology suggests that its application would be economically favorable for the industry

Sugarcane bagasse, Molasses, Rice straw, Fungal strain, Enzyme cocktail, Yeast

Provisional patent application Number: 202211076935
PCT # PCT/IN2023/051244
ii. Institute(s) having Commercialization Rights for the invention.
ICGEB, New Delhi