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Comparison of acid-, alkaline-, and ionic liquid–treated Napier grass as an immobilization carrier for butanol production by Clostridium beijerinckii JCM 8026

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Abstract

Immobilization is a simple technique in which microorganisms adhere and agglomerate onto the porous material’s surface, resulting in a higher cell density, cell tolerance, and productivity. Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation using immobilized Clostridium beijerinckii JCM 8026 on Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) chemically pretreated with H2SO4, NaOH, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM-OAc) was compared in order to investigate the effect of the treatment on butanol production. X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and surface area measurement analyses indicated that the alkaline-pretreated Napier grass sample had the highest crystalline level with the lowest lignin content (lignin/cellulose) and a high surface area compared with other pretreated samples, suggesting its potential as an immobilized material. The fermentation was operated in a batch system for 5 days with an initial glucose level of 60 g/L. Clostridium beijerinckii JCM 8026 immobilized on the NaOH-treated Napier grass gave the highest butanol concentration (8.99 g/L), which corresponded to a 24.7% and 25.6% higher concentration than that when the cells were immobilized on untreated Napier grass and free cell culture, respectively. It is likely that immobilization on NaOH-treated Napier grass increased the cells’ protection from environmental stresses and prevented their washing out due to its swollen structure within an enlarged surface area.

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Funding

This research was funded by Chulalongkorn University (CU-GES-60-04-63-03) and by the Government budget (GB-A_61_046_63_05), Thailand. The authors acknowledge the 100th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University for Doctoral Scholarship, the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund), and the Energy Conservation Fund (ENCON Fund) from Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), Thailand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Soi Chula 12, Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Piyawat Chinwatpaiboon, Inthanon Doolayagovit & Apanee Luengnaruemitchai

  2. Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University, 114 Sukhumwit 23, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Akarin Boonsombuti

  3. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Ancharida Savarajara

  4. Center of Excellence on Catalysis for Bioenergy and Renewable Chemicals (CBRC), Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Apanee Luengnaruemitchai

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  1. Piyawat Chinwatpaiboon
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Chinwatpaiboon, P., Doolayagovit, I., Boonsombuti, A. et al. Comparison of acid-, alkaline-, and ionic liquid–treated Napier grass as an immobilization carrier for butanol production by Clostridium beijerinckii JCM 8026. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 10, 1071–1082 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-019-00491-5

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