Tree Alcohol Production via Koji Fungus Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing bioethanol from wood-based biomass are limited by high production costs and competition with food resources, and existing technologies struggle to ferment trees due to their antimicrobial properties, making it difficult to produce alcohol for fuel or food applications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of mother cell lytic enzymes from spore-forming aerobic bacteria to degrade trees into a powdery state, followed by primary and secondary fermentations with koji fungus and yeast, respectively, without the need for chemical treatments or grain-based carbohydrates, allowing for the production of alcohol directly from tree cellulose and carbohydrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical treatment is used to produce alcohol from wood-based biomass, then alcohol production is achieved, but production costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces koji fungus as an intermediary biological agent that naturally produces cellulase enzymes to break down wood cellulose into fermentable sugars. This biological mediation replaces costly chemical treatments, enabling alcohol production from wood-based biomass at lower costs while avoiding the need for expensive chemical pretreatment processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical systems (chemical treatment) with a biological system (koji fungus fermentation). The koji fungus naturally secretes enzymes that chemically decompose cellulose, substituting the need for industrial chemical treatment processes and reducing production costs
2Productivity
If trees are fermented directly, then alcohol production from non-food biomass is achieved, but fermentation is inhibited by antimicrobial substances in trees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-treating the tree material with koji fungus before alcohol fermentation. The koji fungus first colonizes the wood and produces cellulase enzymes that break down cellulose into sugars, creating a favorable substrate for subsequent alcohol fermentation while simultaneously overcoming the antimicrobial barriers through established fungal colonization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses koji fungus as a dual-function intermediary: it produces cellulase to convert cellulose to sugars and simultaneously overcomes the antimicrobial properties of tree materials through fungal colonization, enabling reliable fermentation of previously non-fermentable wood-based biomass
3Productivity
If starch and carbohydrates are used as feedstock for bioethanol production, then alcohol production is achieved, but food prices rise and food crises occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the feedstock parameter from food-based starch and carbohydrates to non-food wood-based cellulose. By utilizing cellulose from trees and bamboo that are not used for human consumption, the process produces alcohol without competing with food supplies, thereby avoiding food price increases and food crises
4Productivity
If conventional fermentation methods are used for trees, then fermentation is attempted, but the process fails due to lack of nutrients and presence of antimicrobials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces koji fungus as a specialized intermediary that is adapted to thrive on wood substrates. The fungus produces cellulase enzymes to access nutrients in cellulose and tolerates the antimicrobial environment of tree materials, successfully establishing fermentation where conventional methods fail
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biological parameter by selecting koji fungus specifically adapted to wood substrates rather than conventional fermentation organisms. This specialized organism can metabolize cellulose and withstand the antimicrobial conditions, transforming an unsuccessful process into a reliable one
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 approach enables the efficient fermentation of trees like bamboo, Japanese cedar, and cypress into alcohol, retaining the tree's intrinsic components and flavor, while also utilizing fermentation residues as livestock feed or fertilizer, thus reducing waste and production costs.
Implementation Method 1
treating trees with mother cell lyases, thereby degrading the trees into a powdery state
Implementation Method 2
mother cell lytic enzymes formed through cytolysis associated with a spore formation of a spore-forming aerobic bacteria
Implementation Method 3
applying a koji fungus to the sterilized tree degradation product, thereby carrying out a primary fermentation
Implementation Method 4
adding a yeast to a fermentation broth obtained by the primary fermentation, thereby carrying out a secondary fermentation to elevate the ethanol concentration
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for the production of alcohol from trees, the method comprising a step of treating a subject tree with mother cell lyases formed through cytolysis associated with sporulation of spore-forming aerobic bacteria, thereby degrading said tree into a powdery state and obtaining a tree degradation product; a step of sterilizing said tree degradation product; a step of treating said sterilized tree degradation product with a koji fungus (Aspergillus oryzae) thereby carrying out a primary fermentation; a step of adding a yeast to the fermentation broth obtained by said primary fermentation thereby carrying out a secondary fermentation; and a step of filtering the fermentation broth obtained by said secondary fermentation, wherein said mother cell lyases are obtained by culturing said spore-forming aerobic bacteria, subjecting the resultant culture medium to a starvation state, thereby converting said bacteria into endospores, and removing impurities including said endosporic bacteria from said culture medium and wherein said spore-forming aerobic bacteria are MRE symbiotic bacteria.