Grantee Research Project Results

A Novel Fermentation Process for Butyric Acid and Butanol Production from Plant Biomass

EPA Grant Number: R829479C023
Subproject: this is subproject number 023 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829479
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Great Lakes Air Center for Integrative Environmental Research
Center Director: Harkema, Jack
Title: A Novel Fermentation Process for Butyric Acid and Butanol Production from Plant Biomass
Investigators: Yang, Shang-Tian
Institution: The Ohio State University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2007 (Extended to December 31, 2007)
RFA: The Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc., Environmental Research and Technology Transfer Program (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research

Objective:

This project is a follow-on of R829479C016. The objective of this research project is to develop a new two-step fermentation process for economical production of butanol from agricultural commodities and food processing wastes containing carbohydrates as an inexpensive feedstock. In this new process, a butyric acid bacterium (Clostridium tyrobutyricum) will be used to covert glucose and xylose to butyric acid first, and then the produced butyric acid will be converted to butanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum in a separate bioreactor. By separating acidogenesis and solventogenesis in two sequential bioreactors, one can better control the metabolic pathway and direct more carbon source to butanol instead of other byproducts (acetone, ethanol, acetate, and butyrate) commonly found in the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation, thus increasing butanol yield and productivity. Also, a novel immobilized fibrous bed bioreactor (FBB) will be used for the fermentation to adapt cells to tolerate high butanol concentration. The specific objectives are to: (1) study butanol production from butyric acid and glucose by C. acetobutylicum immobilized in a FBB; (2) develop a process for enhanced butyric acid production from glucose and xylose; and (3) develop and demonstrate the proposed two-step extractive fermentation process for producing butanol from glucose and xylose.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 10 publications for this subproject | View all 208 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 4 journal articles for this subproject | View all 44 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

sustainable industry, waste, agricultural engineering, bioremediation, environmental engineering, new technology, innovative technology, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, bioenergy, bioengineering, biotechnology, phytoremediation, plant biotechnology, bioremediation, carcinogen, contamination, phytodegradation, pollutant, toxicity, heavy metal, environmental cleanup, Clostridium acetobutyricum, C. tyrobutyricum, butanol, butyric acid, fibrous bed bioreactor, gene inactivation, ack, pta,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Sustainable Industry/Business, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Chemistry, Technology, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Biochemistry, waste vegetable oil, plant biomass sugars, agricultural byproducts, biomass, biotechnology, butanol, environmentally benign alternative

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829479 Great Lakes Air Center for Integrative Environmental Research

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829479C001 Plant Genes and Agrobacterium T-DNA Integration
R829479C002 Designing Promoters for Precision Targeting of Gene Expression
R829479C003 aka R829479C011 Biological Effects of Epoxy Fatty Acids
R829479C004 Negative Sense Viral Vectors for Improved Expression of Foreign Genes in Insects and Plants
R829479C005 Development of Novel Plastics From Agricultural Oils
R829479C006 Conversion of Paper Sludge to Ethanol
R829479C007 Enhanced Production of Biodegradable Plastics in Plants
R829479C008 Engineering Design of Stable Immobilized Enzymes for the Hydrolysis and Transesterification of Triglycerides
R829479C009 Discovery and Evaluation of SNP Variation in Resistance-Gene Analogs and Other Candidate Genes in Cotton
R829479C010 Woody Biomass Crops for Bioremediating Hydrocarbons and Metals
R829479C011 Biological Effects of Epoxy Fatty Acids
R829479C012 High Strength Degradable Plastics From Starch and Poly(lactic acid)
R829479C013 Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Energy and Biomass Crops
R829479C014 Identification of Receptors of Bacillus Thuringiensis Toxins in Midguts of the European Corn Borer
R829479C015 Coordinated Expression of Multiple Anti-Pest Proteins
R829479C016 A Novel Fermentation Process for Butyric Acid and Butanol Production from Plant Biomass
R829479C017 Molecular Improvement of an Environmentally Friendly Turfgrass
R829479C018 Woody Biomass Crops for Bioremediating Hydrocarbons and Metals. II.
R829479C019 Transgenic Plants for Bioremediation of Atrazine and Related Herbicides
R829479C020 Root Exudate Biostimulation for Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Phytoremediation
R829479C021 Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Contamination by Metallohistins, a New Class of Plant Metal-Binding Proteins
R829479C022 Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Energy and Biomass Crops
R829479C023 A Novel Fermentation Process for Butyric Acid and Butanol Production from Plant Biomass
R829479C024 Development of Vectors for the Stoichiometric Accumulation of Multiple Proteins in Transgenic Crops
R829479C025 Chemical Induction of Disease Resistance in Trees
R829479C026 Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Hardwoods
R829479C027 Environmentally Superior Soybean Genome Development
R829479C028 Development of Efficient Methods for the Genetic Transformation of Willow and Cottonwood for Increased Remediation of Pollutants
R829479C029 Development of Tightly Regulated Ecdysone Receptor-Based Gene Switches for Use in Agriculture
R829479C030 Engineered Plant Virus Proteins for Biotechnology

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.