(176af) The Effects of Inhibitors from Biomass Hydrolysates to n-Butanol Production Using Engineered Clostridium Tyrobutyricum

The demand for renewable energy sources has grown more than ever before, prompting extensive studies on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels. This study aims to convert corn stover, a readily available agricultural residue, into butanol, a promising biofuel. This conversion process involves three major phases: alkaline pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation using engineered Clostridium tyrobutyricum strains. During the pretreatment phase, the tough lignocellulosic structure is disrupted, making the cellulose and hemicellulose further accessible for the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. The corn stover is subjected to an alkaline pretreatment with 2.5% w/v sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at a solid loading of 10% w/w. To detoxify the hydrolysate, it is passed through a washing step which removes potential inhibitors that could hinder the fermentation process. Next, a combination of Ctec3 and HTec3 cellulase enzymes is used to hydrolyze the pretreated corn stover. This stage breaks down the cellulose and hemicellulose into fermentable sugars, which serve as the feedstock for the subsequent fermentation stage where engineered Clostridium tyrobutyricum strains, known for their ability to produce butanol from various sugars, are used. Clostridium tyrobutyricum is a gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium that has been extensively studied for its potential in butanol production from renewable resources. 10 inhibitors presented in corn stover hydrolysates were studied for their effects on n-butanol fermentation. This study will help further optimize the biomass hydrolysis process and develop more efficient detoxification methods This process integrates alkaline pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation using Clostridium tyrobutyricum strains to convert lignocellulosic biomass into a valuable biofuel holds tremendous promise. Successfully conducted, it could herald the development of novel sustainable and renewable energy sources harnessing valorizing agricultural residues such as corn stover. The findings of this study could pave the way for further research and industrial-scale applications in the field of biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstocks.