Hydrolysis of residual starch from sago pith residue and its fermentation to bioethanol

Utilisation of sago pith residue (SPR) for fermentable sugar production using both acid and enzymatic hydrolysis was studied. In acid hydrolysis, the effect of solid and acid concentrations, temperature and reaction time was optimised. The effect of enzyme dosage was studied on enzymatic hydrolysis of SPR. Higher yield and conversion of 0.73 g g-1 (96% conversion) was achieved by treating 6% (w v-1) of SPR with 1% (v v-1) H2SO4 at 125°C for 90 min as compared to 0.61 g g-1 (79% conversion) using 40 U g-1 biomass of Aspergillus niger amyloglucosidase incubated at 60°C and pH4 for 48 h. The fermentation of acid hydrolysate of SPR demonstrated that high ethanol yield of 98% can be achieved without supplementation of nitrogen and nutrients. The complete process showed that 470 L of bioethanol could be produced from 1 tonne of SPR. This figure makes SPR an ideal raw material for bio-conversion into bioethanol or other value-added products

Isolation and characterization of biohydrogen-producing bacteria for biohydrogen fermentation using oil palm biomass-based carbon source

The effectiveness of biohydrogen conversion from biomass sources is governed by the selection of ideal biohydrogen-producing bacteria to achieve high and consistent production performance. The aim of this research was to isolate and identify a biohydrogen producer in local soil samples, as well as to evaluate its fermentability in biohydrogen production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). To this end, preliminary identification was performed using morphological, phenotype, biological, and 16s rRNA analyses. The fermentability of the isolate was further evaluated in a serum bottle and then in a 1.5 L anaerobic column bioreactor (ACBR) to investigate the potential for biohydrogen production using two OPEFB-based carbon sources: hydrolysate of ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)-pretreated OPEFB and molasses from dilute acetic acid (DAA)-pretreated OPEFB. The isolated strain, Enterobacter sp. KBH 6958, was found to be capable of producing biohydrogen from various carbon sources via the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) pathway. The cumulative conversion of AFEX OPEFB hydrolysate was 45% higher than that observed in DAA OPEFB molasses fermentation in the production of biohydrogen. The biohydrogen yield after fermenting AFEX OPEFB hydrolysate with Enterobacter sp. KBH 6958 was 1.55 mol H2/mol sugar, with a maximum productivity of 98.1 mL H2/h (4.01 mmol H2/L/h), whereas butyrate (10.6 mM), acetate (11.8 mM), and ethanol (4.56 mM) were found to be the major soluble metabolites. This study successfully demonstrated the biotechnological conversion of OPEFB into biohydrogen using a locally isolated strain, which not only solves environmental issues associated with the industry but may also offer a solution to the world’s energy insecurity

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

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

The effectiveness of biohydrogen conversion from biomass sources is governed by the selection of ideal biohydrogen-producing bacteria to achieve high and consistent production performance. The aim of this research was to isolate and identify a biohydrogen producer in local soil samples, as well as to evaluate its fermentability in biohydrogen production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). To this end, preliminary identification was performed using morphological, phenotype, biological, and 16s rRNA analyses. The fermentability of the isolate was further evaluated in a serum bottle and then in a 1.5 L anaerobic column bioreactor (ACBR) to investigate the potential for biohydrogen production using two OPEFB-based carbon sources: hydrolysate of ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)-pretreated OPEFB and molasses from dilute acetic acid (DAA)-pretreated OPEFB. The isolated strain, Enterobacter sp. KBH 6958, was found to be capable of producing biohydrogen from various carbon sources via the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) pathway. The cumulative conversion of AFEX OPEFB hydrolysate was 45% higher than that observed in DAA OPEFB molasses fermentation in the production of biohydrogen. The biohydrogen yield after fermenting AFEX OPEFB hydrolysate with Enterobacter sp. KBH 6958 was 1.55 mol H2/mol sugar, with a maximum productivity of 98.1 mL H2/h (4.01 mmol H2/L/h), whereas butyrate (10.6 mM), acetate (11.8 mM), and ethanol (4.56 mM) were found to be the major soluble metabolites. This study successfully demonstrated the biotechnological conversion of OPEFB into biohydrogen using a locally isolated strain, which not only solves environmental issues associated with the industry but may also offer a solution to the world’s energy insecurity

Succinic Acid Production from Oil Palm Biomass: A Prospective Plastic Pollution Solution

Plastic pollution has placed a significant emphasis on the need for synthesising bioplastics, such as polybutylene succinate (PBS), which is derived from succinic acid. Furthermore, environmental concerns and the depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels have initiated an interest in exploring the biotechnological route of succinic acid production via fermentation. Consequently, oil palm biomass might be a prospective substitute for the costlier pure carbon source, which is more sustainable and cost-effective due to its abundance and high lignocellulosic content. The current review focuses on the potential of oil palm biomass utilisation to synthesise succinic acid and its associated bioplastics. The pretreatment and hydrolysis of various oil palm biomass and studies on bioplastics generation from oil palm biomass are also discussed. This review also identified the challenges of manufacturing succinic acid from oil palm biomass and included several recommendations