Towards sustainable production of bio-based lactic acid via a bio-based technical route: Recent developments and the use of palm kernel cakes in the bioconversion

Abstract

The continued reliance on non-renewable fossil resources has led to serious environmental issues. In light of these concerns, the transition from non-renewable sources to more sustainable ones have been explored, as exemplified by the production of bio-based lactic acid via lignocellulosic biomass bio-refinery process. Malaysia, the second-largest producer of palm oil in the world, generates abundant, cheap, and underutilized oil palm biomass in the form of palm kernel cakes. Comprised of 50% fermentable hexose sugars, palm kernel cakes have emerged as an interesting feedstock substitute in the production of bio-based fine chemicals, e.g., lactic acid. This paper focuses on current work based on selected literature published in the 21st century on the exploitation of palm kernel cakes as a novel feedstock in bio-refinery processes after addressing the current global demand and potential commodity applications of bio-based lactic acid. It then discusses current research on potential lactic acid-producing microorganisms, with particular attention to bacteria, and different pretreatment methods for carbohydrate recovery from palm kernel cakes. It also highlights the potential of oil palm biomass, especially palm kernel cakes, as a promising commodity that contributes to sugar platforms in value-added products, e.g., biofuel, bioenergy, ethanol, acids, and fine chemicals.

Isolation and Characterization of Biohydrogen-Producing Bacteria for Biohydrogen Fermentation Using Oil Palm Biomass-Based Carbon Source

“…Glucose-6-phosphate and pyruvic acid were two important intermediate metabolites involved in Embden-Meyerhof pathway [25]. While citric, L-malic, succinic, and fumaric acids were essential intermediate metabolites during Krebs cycle [26]. Accordingly, KBH 6958 used 100% of the carbon sources thymidine and uridine because they were both standard nucleosides that make up nucleic acids.…”

Determination of Variable Humidity Profile for Lactic Acid Maximization in Fungal Solid-State Fermentation

“…Since a few years ago, various biotech companies have been actively investing in the commercialization of bio-based LA, such as: NatureWorks LLC (United States), Corbion-Purac (The Netherlands) and Galactic S.S (Belgium). The most significant demands for LA in the global market come from the food industry, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, having gained great importance in recent years its use as a precursor of the biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA), and also its use as a fundamental part of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) being a type of green solvents [10].…”

The effect on tensile and surface morphological properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibre through hot water treatment

“…Concurrently, the increased production volume gave rise to a significant concern within the palm oil sector, namely the substantial quantity of biomass disposal [3]. The biomass produced at the plantation consists of the following components: oil palm trunk fibres (OPT), oil palm frond fibres (OPF), 23% empty fruit bunch fibres (EFB), 6% palm kernel shell (PKS), 7% palm kernel cake (PKC) and 15% oil palm mesocarp fibre (OPM) [3,4,5]. According to the study conducted by Faizi et al [6], it was shown that palm oil accounted for just 10% of the total output of the oil palm tree, while the other 90% was composed of biomass waste.…”