Bioconversion of Sugarcane Vinasse into High-Added Value Products and Energy

Abstract

Vinasse, a residue from bioethanol production containing high organic matter concentration, was used as substrate in submerged fermentation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 for biosurfactant production. About 2.7 g/L of rhamnolipids was obtained, with surface tension of 29.2 mN/m and critical micelle concentration of 80.3 mg/L. After separation of rhamnolipid and biomass, residual fermentation media were submitted to anaerobic biodegradation in mesophilic conditions. The residual medium derived from fermentation with vinasse diluted to 1 : 1, without addition of nitrogen, C : N 21, and for 168 h, led to 63.2% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and 97.6 mL CH4/g CODremoved. Compared to results obtained with fresh vinasse (73.7% COD removal and 112.4 mL CH4/g CODremoved), it could be concluded that both processes can be integrated in order to add value to the residue and obtain energy, reducing production costs and at the same time environmental impacts related to vinasse disposal.

Microbial production of rhamnolipids using sugars as carbon sources

“…Sugarcane vinasse, a residue from bioethanol production is a common waste during fermentation using substrate from sugar crops. It also contains sugars and is able to serve as a substrate for rhamnolipids production [ 58 ]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 could produce 2.7 g/L of rhamnolipids when sugarcane vinasse was used as a substrate in submerged fermentation [ 58 ].…”

“…It also contains sugars and is able to serve as a substrate for rhamnolipids production [ 58 ]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 could produce 2.7 g/L of rhamnolipids when sugarcane vinasse was used as a substrate in submerged fermentation [ 58 ]. Pseudomonas luteola B17 and P. putida B12 grown on autoclaved medium consisting of sugarcane beet molasses mixed with distilled water, gave maximum rhamnolipids production at 72 h [ 59 ].…”

“…Pseudomonas luteola B17 and P. putida B12 grown on autoclaved medium consisting of sugarcane beet molasses mixed with distilled water, gave maximum rhamnolipids production at 72 h [ 59 ]. Other strains such as B. subtilis can also use sugarcane vinasse as sources for biosurfactant and energy production [ 60 – 62 ]. In addition to vinasse and molasses, sugar cane refining by-products such as sweet water have also been used as carbon sources for P. aeruginosa with rhamnolipids yields of 4.0–4.7 g/L [ 63 ].…”

Bioprospecting of exopolysaccharide-producing bacteria from different natural ecosystems for biopolymer synthesis from vinasse

“…cellulose by Acetobacter, chitosan by Mucorales, galactoglucopolysaccharides and biosurfactant by Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Zooglea, scleroglucan by Sclerotium, and welan by Alcaligenes [9][10][11]. Due to the wide diversity of structures and functional properties, there is an increasing interest in EPSs synthesized by microorganisms [12][13][14].…”

Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis by Burkholderia glumae into a Sustainable Sugarcane Biorefinery Concept

“…If considered the discharge of vinasse in water bodies, a more catastrophic effect is expected, since vinasse is highly toxic to aquatic biota with a pollution potential hundred times higher than household sewage (Christofoletti et al, 2013 ). Naspolini et al ( 2017 ) have reported the rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 from medium containing glycerol and sugarcane vinasse. Interestingly, these authors not only obtained a biosurfactant production but also they reported a 63.2% COD removal from culture medium.…”