In-situ detoxification strategies to boost bioalcohol production from lignocellulosic biomass

The bioalcohol production (ethanol and butanol) from lignocellulosic biomass has some technoeconomic limitations nowadays. Detoxification technologies can efficiently remove fermentation inhibitors (such as furan aldehydes, aliphatic acids, and phenolic compounds) to increase the bioalcohol titers. However, the addition of more steps before fermentation increases the complexity of the production scheme and reduces the profit margin. Process intensification concepts have been disseminated as a critical factor for the success of biotechnological processes, including bioalcohol production. Thus, this review discusses the main inhibitors from lignocellulosic biomass and the in-situ technologies used to minimize the yeast inhibition in hydrolysates and slurries. In-situ detoxification strategies involve different fundamentals, but they have the unanimity of allowing fermentation to be carried out concurrently. They are usually based on the establishment of a microbial consortium as well as the addition of reducing agents, polymers, solvents and adsorbents. Also, in-situ product recovery methods have been developed to minimize energy consumption in downstream processing. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The production of bioalcohol (ethanol and butanol) from lignocellulosic biomass faces technoeconomic limitations, but detoxification technologies can increase bioalcohol titers by efficiently removing fermentation inhibitors. In-situ detoxification strategies, involving microbial consortiums and additives, allow concurrent fermentation and minimize energy consumption in downstream processing.