Oleaginous Yeast Lipid Production via Continuous Microfiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing lipids from biomass are costly and inefficient, particularly when using lignocellulosic biomass, which often contains toxic compounds that inhibit microbial growth, and result in low lipid yields.
Innovation Solution
A process involving hydrolysis of biomass to separate polysaccharides, followed by fermentation with oleaginous microorganisms, continuous microfiltration, and purification treatment to concentrate cellular biomass and recycle sugars and other substances, allowing for the use of dilute sugar solutions and toxic compounds, thereby reducing costs and increasing lipid yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fermentation processes are used with lignocellulosic biomass, then the process is simple to operate, but the lipid yield is low and production costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The fermentation process is divided into two separate devices: a first fermentation device for initial microbial growth and an second fermentation device for lipid production. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function, thereby increasing overall lipid yield while managing process complexity through functional specialization
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous microfiltration during fermentation to concentrate the fermentation broth and recycle it back to the fermentation devices. This continuous action maintains high cell densities and substrate utilization, significantly improving lipid productivity without requiring complete batch processing
2Adaptability or versatility
If toxic compounds from lignocellulosic biomass are present in the fermentation medium, then the process can use raw biomass directly, but microbial growth is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The first fermentation device performs preliminary microbial growth and adaptation to the toxic compounds present in the hydrolyzed biomass. This preliminary action allows the microorganisms to acclimate to the inhibitory substances before the main lipid production phase in the second fermentation device, thereby protecting microbial growth while maintaining adaptability to use raw biomass
Solution Approach 2:
The first fermentation broth acts as an intermediary medium that has been pre-exposed to toxic compounds. By transferring adapted microorganisms and using this pre-conditioned medium in the second fermentation device, the system mediates between the toxic raw biomass and the sensitive lipid-producing microbes, enabling both tolerance and reliable growth
3Quantity of substance
If continuous microfiltration and purification are implemented, then lipid concentration increases and substances are recycled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microfiltration and purification operations are merged into a continuous integrated system that simultaneously concentrates the fermentation broth and recycles it to the fermentation devices. This combining of functions achieves high lipid concentration while managing device complexity through integrated design rather than separate discrete units
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous microfiltration system automatically concentrates and recycles the fermentation broth without requiring external intervention for batch processing. The system serves itself by maintaining continuous operation, automatically separating and concentrating lipids while recycling nutrients and cells, thereby achieving high lipid concentration with manageable operational complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process maintains a constant fermentation broth volume, increases lipid concentration, recycles valuable substances, and tolerates higher levels of toxic compounds, achieving a lipid yield of at least 25% based on total sugars used, making it more economically viable for biofuel production.
Implementation Method 1
The sugars thus obtained are used as a source of carbon in fermentation processes in the presence of microorganisms for the production of alcohols and/or of lipids
Implementation Method 2
said microfiltration and said purification treatment are carried out continuously during said fermentation
Implementation Method 3
The production of sugars from biomass, in particular from lignocellulosic biomass, is known in the art
Data Source
AI summary
Process for the production of lipids from biomass including at least one polysaccharide comprising: —subjecting said biomass to hydrolysis to obtain a mixture comprising a first solid phase and a first aqueous phase; —preparing an inoculum comprising at least one oleaginous microorganism in a first fermentation device to obtain a first fermentation broth; —feeding said first aqueous phase and said first fermentation broth to a second fermentation device to obtain a second fermentation broth; —subjecting at least a portion of said second fermentation broth to microfiltration to obtain a first retentate and a first permeate; —feeding said first retentate to said second fermentation device; —subjecting said first permeate to a purification treatment to obtain a second permeate and a second retentate; —feeding said second retentate to said second fermentation device; —at the end of said fermentation, subjecting said second fermentation broth to separation to obtain an aqueous suspension of oleaginous cellular biomass comprising lipids and a second aqueous phase. The lipids thus obtained can advantageously be used in the production of biofuels.