Special Abstracts / Journal of Biotechnology 150S (2010) S1–S576 S171

[P-B.90]

Biorefinery for bioethanol, lactic acid, xylitol and astaxanthinproduction from corn cobs

Jun-ichi Horiuchi ∗, Kiyoshi Tada, Tohru Kanno

Kitami Institute of Technology, JapanKeywords: Biorefinery; Xylitol; Astaxanthin; Biomass

A biorefinery is an integrated process for biomass conversionto produce multiple products including fuels and chemicals. Forsuccessful development of biorefinery, it is important to achieve therational design of the total biorefinery system for high profitabilitywith low environmental impact.

In this view, we experimentally examined the feasibility ofbiorefinery for producing multiple products including bioethanol,xylitol, lactic acid and astaxanthin from corn cobs as a feed stock.The corn cobs were first hydrolysed by the dilute acid to obtainto xylose and its residues were then enzymatically hydrolyzedto glucose. By this treatment, hydrolysates containing approxi-mately 27 g-xylose/l and 26 g-glucose/l were selectively obtainedfrom 100 g-corn cobs/l. Using the hydrolysate containing xylose,approximately 18 g/l xylitol was successfully produced by Candidamagnolia. The hydrolysate containing glucose was easily utilized forbioethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Simultaneousenzymatic saccharification and fermentation (SFF) was also effec-tive to produce bioethanol and lactic acid from corn cob residuestreated by dilute sulphuric acid, which mainly contain cellulose.It was also found that the hydrolysates containing xylose andglucose could be used as a favourable source for astaxanthin pro-duction using Xanthophyllomyces dentrohous. By incorporating thehigh value product such as astaxanthin into the biorefinery system,the economic feasibility of the biorefinery was greatly improved.Finally total process evaluation will be presented from the viewpoints of profitability, energy consumption and environmentalimpact.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2010.08.443

[P-B.91]

Valorisation of olive processing residues for cellulase produc-tion

Giuseppe Damato ∗, Marco Bravi

Dip. Ingegneria Chimica Materiali Ambiente, Sapienza Università diRoma, ItalyKeywords: Bioethanol; Cellulase; Olive oil mill wastewaters(OOMW); Olive pomace (OP)

One of today’s greatest challenges for scientists and technolo-gists is sustainably meeting the growing energy demand to feedindustry processes, transportation, and residential uses. Renewa-bility is the leit-motiv and biological energetic resources, such aslignocellulosic biomasses, have been identified as the most promis-ing source of biofuels.

In this work we are concerned by one critical (economically andtechnically) step in the production of bioethanol, the enzymaticconversion of the lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars.A variety of microorganisms have the ability to produce cellulolyticenzymes, collectively known as cellulases; among them, the moldTrichoderma reesei Rut-C30, is considered to be the best producer.

The high cost of cellulase enzymes represents a significantbarrier to the commercial deployment of second generationbioethanol. In the past years, significant effort has been made toreduce the cost by focusing on optimizing the fermentation process

parameters, improving the efficiency of known enzymes, identifi-cation of new enzymes and minimization of production costs byusing, for example, waste materials as culture media.

In this work, carried out in the frame of the ETOILE researchproject (FP7-SME-2007-1, grant 222331), we give an account ofa cellulase cost-reducing process centered on the use of oliveoil production by-products: olive pomace (OP) and olive oil millwastewater (OOMW). OP has been tested as inducer for cellulaseproduction in T. reesei Rut C-30 and it showed the same, if not bet-ter, induction power compared with that of cellulose, a classicalinducer for this process. Moreover, the effect of a certain num-ber of phenolic compounds, usually founded in OOMW, as beentested on cellulase production. Preliminary results will be shownregarding the feasibility of a simultaneous OOMW-biotreatmentand cellulase-production process.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2010.08.444

[P-B.92]

Effect of organic loading rate on the anaerobic co-digestion ofvegetable wastes with activated sludge

Martin Saev 1, Ivan Simeonov 1,2, Bogdana Koumanova 1,∗

1 University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria2 Institute of Microbiology, Bulg.Academy of Sci., BulgariaKeywords: Co-digestion; Wasted vegetables; Biogas; Organic load-ing rate

A study on the effect of organic loading rate on the anaerobicco-digestion of wasted vegetable mixture with activated sludgewas carried out. The experiments were conducted at mesophilicconditions (34 ◦C) and semi-continuous mode. The vegetable mix-ture consisted of cucumbers, tomatoes and potatoes. Three organicloading rates were investigated - 0.61, 1.23 and 1.84 kg VS m−3

day−1 (HRT of 60, 30 and 20 days, respectively). Apple wastes werealso added to the mixture of vegetables and their effect on thebiogas production was evaluated. Similar experiments were car-ried out with wasted tomatoes with organic loading rates 1.62and 2.43 kg VS m−3 day−1 (HRT of 20 and 13,3 days, respectively).For the co-digestion the major biogas production was obtained atorganic loading rate of 1.84 kg VS m−3 day−1, whereas the anaero-bic digestion of wasted tomatoes failed at the biggest organic rate.The effect of pulse wise organic load on the process also was inves-tigated. It was concluded that the dependence of the daily biogasproduction from the organic load is not linear. During the processthe values of some parameters as total solids, volatile solids andCOD was calculated.

Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge thefinancial support from the Bulgarian National Science Fund, thecontract No DO-02-190/08.

doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2010.08.445

[P-B.93]

Environmental and LCA analysis of a biodiesel production linefrom sunflower in the province of siena (Italy)

D. Spinelli, S. Jez, R. Pogni, R. Basosi ∗

University of SIENA (ITALY), ItalyKeywords: Biodiesel; LCA; Energy Analysis

The study presents the results of an environmental impactassessment for the construction of a pilot production line ofBiodiesel from sunflower on local scale. All the steps of the produc-