Lignocellulosic residues from bioethanol production: a novel source of biopolymers for laccase immobilization.
Valeria V��zquez, Victoria Giorgi, Fernando Bonfiglio, Pilar Men��ndez, Larissa Gioia, Karen Ovsejevi
Author Information
Valeria V��zquez: ��rea Bioqu��mica, Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Qu��mica, Universidad de la Rep��blica General Flores 2124 11800 Montevideo Uruguay lgioia@fq.edu.uy kovsejev@fq.edu.uy +598 29241806. ORCID
Victoria Giorgi: Universidad de la Rep��blica, Facultad de Qu��mica, Departamento de Qu��mica Org��nica Montevideo Uruguay. ORCID
Fernando Bonfiglio: Latitud - Fundaci��n LATU, Centro de Investigaciones en Biocombustibles 2G Montevideo Uruguay. ORCID
Pilar Men��ndez: Universidad de la Rep��blica, Facultad de Qu��mica, Departamento de Qu��mica Org��nica Montevideo Uruguay. ORCID
Larissa Gioia: ��rea Bioqu��mica, Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Qu��mica, Universidad de la Rep��blica General Flores 2124 11800 Montevideo Uruguay lgioia@fq.edu.uy kovsejev@fq.edu.uy +598 29241806. ORCID
Karen Ovsejevi: ��rea Bioqu��mica, Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Qu��mica, Universidad de la Rep��blica General Flores 2124 11800 Montevideo Uruguay lgioia@fq.edu.uy kovsejev@fq.edu.uy +598 29241806. ORCID
The full utilization of the main components in the lignocellulosic biomass is the major goal from a biorefinery point of view, giving not only environmental benefits but also making the process economically viable. In this sense the solid residue obtained in bioethanol production after steam explosion pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation of the lignocellulosic biomass, was studied for further valorization. Two different residues were analyzed, one generated by the production of cellulosic ethanol from an energy crop such as switchgrass () and the other, from wood (). The chemical composition of these by-products showed that they were mainly composed of lignin with a total content range from 70 to 83% (w/w) and small amounts of cellulose and hemicellulose. The present work was focused on devising a new alternative for processing these materials, based on the ability of the ionic liquids (IL) to dissolve lignocellulosic biomass. The resulting mixture of biopolymers and IL constituted the raw material for developing new insoluble biocatalysts. Active hydrogels based on fungal laccase from 1488 were attained. A multifactorial analysis of the main variables involved in the immobilization process enabled a more direct approach to improving hydrogel-bound activity. These hydrogels achieved a 97% reduction in the concentration of the estrogen ethinylestradiol, an emerging contaminant of particular concern due to its endocrine activity. The novel biocatalysts based on fungal laccase entrapped on a matrix made from a by-product of second-generation bioethanol production presents great potential for performing heterogeneous catalysis offering extra value to the ethanol biorefinery.
References
Recent Pat Biotechnol. 2008;2(1):10-24
[PMID: 19075849]
