Investigation of Lactic Acid Production by Pressurized Liquid Hot Water from Cultivated Miscanthus ×giganteus

Author(s)

Kaniye Gunes

Sait Sargin

Melih Soner Celiktas

Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT

The production of lactic acid, a polylactic acid monomer from energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus lignocellulosic biomass cultivated in Izmir was investigated. Liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment was carried out at a temperature range of 140–200 °C, pressure 100 to 200 bar and reaction time of 15–45 min at a fixed flow rate of 2 mL/min using D-optimal experimental plan. The optimum conditions were elicited as 140 °C, 100 bar and 45 minutes, yielding the highest reducing sugar content of 77.32 mg/g, whereas 1.25 mg/mL arabinose and 1.35 mg/mL xylose as monomeric sugars. Subsequently, the enzymatic hydrolysis was applied to the solid fraction. The optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis were determined as 5% (w/v) solid/liquid ratio, 20 FPU/mL enzyme loading and 72 hours, revealing the highest amount of reducing sugar as 200 mg/mL. LHW hydrolysate was used as a production medium for lactic acid manufacturing in submerged fermentation by Rhizopus oryzae. The maximum lactic acid content was found to be 6.8 g/L at 24 hours, whereas the lactic acid yield was 0.28 g/L.h. The sequential design of LHW, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and submerged lactic acid fermentation can be utilized in industry, contributing to the bioeconomy.

Citation: Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology

Volume: 53

Keywords: Miscanthus ×giganteus / biorefinery / lactic acid / enzymatic hydrolysis / fermentation / biomass

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10826068.2022.2035745