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Bioconversion of Plant Hydrolysate Biomass into Biofuels Using an Engineered Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli Mixed-whole Cell Biotransformation

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  • Bioprocess Engineering
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Abstract

Bioconversion of organic biomass such as plant hydrolysate and organic waste into valuable biochemicals is very challenging. In this study, carbohydrate-rich watermelon rinds and protein-rich okara (soybean waste) were converted into biofuels of ethanol, isobutanol, and methylbutanols using an engineered Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis mixed-whole cell biotransformation. The engineered E. coli expressed the genes alsS, kivD, ilvC, ilvD, and yqhD, and the engineered B. subtilis expressed the genes leuDH, kivD, and yqhD. The growth inhibition of the B. subtilis strain, which was reduced by 50% with addition of 1 mM furfural, was restored by the addition of 1 g/mL of activated carbon. The ratio of the E. coil and B. subtilis was optimized depending on carbohydrate and protein composition of the hydrolysate. When the carbohydrate levels were high, a 4:1 ratio of engineered E. coli to B. subtilis led to the highest overall biofuel (1.1 g/L) and isobutanol (80%) production. Viability analysis of the engineered E. coli to B. subtilis strains showed that the E. coli strain had higher activity at the beginning of the biotransformation period, while the B. subtilis strain exhibited higher activity in the later stages. The results of the present study provide important information for future biochemical production research, particularly regarding the diversification of organic waste resources.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Next-Generation BioGreen21 Program (SSAC, No. PJ01312801) of the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of Korea. References

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Neither ethical approval nor informed consent was required for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Research, Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Korea

    Seo Yeong Kim

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Korea

    Kwon-Young Choi

  3. Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, College of Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Korea

    Kwon-Young Choi

  4. Department of Microbial Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Korea

    Yung-Hun Yang

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  1. Seo Yeong Kim
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Kim, S.Y., Yang, YH. & Choi, KY. Bioconversion of Plant Hydrolysate Biomass into Biofuels Using an Engineered Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli Mixed-whole Cell Biotransformation. Biotechnol Bioproc E 25, 477–484 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-019-0487-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-019-0487-6

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