New insights into the influence of pre-culture on robust solvent production of C. acetobutylicum.

Clostridia are known for their solvent production, especially the production of butanol. Concerning the projected depletion of fossil fuels, this is of great interest. The cultivation of clostridia is known to be challenging, and it is difficult to achieve reproducible results and robust processes. However, existing publications usually concentrate on the cultivation conditions of the main culture. In this paper, the influence of cryo-conservation and pre-culture on growth and solvent production in the resulting main cultivation are examined. A protocol was developed that leads to reproducible cultivations of Clostridium acetobutylicum. Detailed investigation of the cell conservation in cryo-cultures ensured reliable cell growth in the pre-culture. Moreover, a reason for the acid crash in the main culture was found, based on the cultivation conditions of the pre-culture. The critical parameter to avoid the acid crash and accomplish the shift to the solventogenesis of clostridia is the metabolic phase in which the cells of the pre-culture were at the time of inoculation of the main culture; this depends on the cultivation time of the pre-culture. Using cells from the exponential growth phase to inoculate the main culture leads to an acid crash. To achieve the solventogenic phase with butanol production, the inoculum should consist of older cells which are in the stationary growth phase. Considering these parameters, which affect the entire cultivation process, reproducible results and reliable solvent production are ensured. KEY POINTS: • Both cryo- and pre-culture strongly impact the cultivation of C. acetobutylicum • Cultivation conditions of the pre-culture are a reason for the acid crash • Inoculum from cells in stationary growth phase ensures shift to solventogenesis.

Flavin secretion of Clostridium acetobutylicum in a bioelectrochemical system - Is an iron limitation involved?

A flavin-based extracellular electron transfer mechanism (EET) has recently been described for the gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes. The gram-positive, solvent producing Clostridium acetobutylicum is a known flavin producer. Since flavin secretion in C. acetobutylicum can be triggered by a low-iron environment, the interaction of iron with an electrochemical system as well as the consequences for flavin production are investigated. It is shown that iron adsorbs onto the electrode's surface in the form of iron phosphorus compounds but that this iron is still bioavailable. Moreover, a shift in the flavin spectrum of the supernatant from high flavin mononucleotide percentages of 59% to high riboflavin (43-45%) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD, 40-48%) content can be seen by limiting or omitting the iron source from the culture medium. When additionally an electric potential of -600 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl) is applied, the same overall trend is obtained but an increase in flavin concentration and especially in the FAD share between 6 and 27% is observed. This study is a first hint that a flavin-based EET might also take place in solventogenic Clostridia and highlights the importance of further investigation of flavin production and their involvement in EET mechanisms in different species.

Biorefineries: A Short Introduction.

The terms bioeconomy and biorefineries are used for a variety of processes and developments. This short introduction is intended to provide a delimitation and clarification of the terminology as well as a classification of current biorefinery concepts. The basic process diagrams of the most important biorefinery types are shown.

Logistics of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks: Preprocessing as a Preferable Option.

In comparison to crude oil, biorefinery raw materials are challenging in concerns of transport and storage. The plant raw materials are more voluminous, so that shredding and compacting usually are necessary before transport. These mechanical processes can have a negative influence on the subsequent biotechnological processing and shelf life of the raw materials. Various approaches and their effects on renewable raw materials are shown. In addition, aspects of decentralized pretreatment steps are discussed. Another important aspect of pretreatment is the varying composition of the raw materials depending on the growth conditions. This problem can be solved with advanced on-site spectrometric analysis of the material. Graphical Abstract.

Increased Biobutanol Production by Mediator-Less Electro-Fermentation.

A future bio-economy should not only be based on renewable raw materials but also in the raise of carbon yields of existing production routes. Microbial electrochemical technologies are gaining increased attention for this purpose. In this study, the electro-fermentative production of biobutanol with C. acetobutylicum without the use of exogenous mediators is investigated regarding the medium composition and the reactor design. It is shown that the use of an optimized synthetic culture medium allows higher product concentrations, increased biofilm formation, and higher conductivities compared to a synthetic medium supplemented with yeast extract. Moreover, the optimization of the reactor system results in a doubling of the maximum product concentrations for fermentation products. When a working electrode is polarized at -600 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, a shift from butyrate to acetone and butanol production is induced. This leads to an increased final solvent yield of YABE = 0.202 g g-1 (control 0.103 g g-1 ), which is also reflected in a higher carbon efficiency of 37.6% compared to 23.3% (control) as well as a fourfold decrease in simplified E-factor to 0.43. The results are promising for further development of biobutanol production in bioelectrochemical systems in order to fulfil the principles of Green Chemistry.

Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation.

For the successful implementation of microfluidic reaction systems, such as PCR and electrophoresis, the movement of small liquid volumes is essential. In conventional lab-on-a-chip-platforms, solvents and samples are passed through defined microfluidic channels with complex flow control installations. The droplet actuation platform presented here is a promising alternative. With it, it is possible to move a liquid drop (microreactor) on a planar surface of a reaction platform (lab-in-a-drop). The actuation of microreactors on the hydrophobic surface of the platform is based on the use of magnetic forces acting on the outer shell of the liquid drops which is made of a thin layer of superhydrophobic magnetite particles. The hydrophobic surface of the platform is needed to avoid any contact between the liquid core and the surface to allow a smooth movement of the microreactor. On the platform, one or more microreactors with volumes of 10 µL can be positioned and moved simultaneously. The platform itself consists of a 3 x 3 matrix of electrical double coils which accommodate either neodymium or iron cores. The magnetic field gradients are automatically controlled. By variation of the magnetic field gradients, the microreactors' magnetic hydrophobic shell can be manipulated automatically to move the microreactor or open the shell reversibly. Reactions of substrates and corresponding enzymes can be initiated by merging the microreactors or bringing them into contact with surface immobilized catalysts.

Albumin-lysozyme interactions: Cooperative adsorption on titanium and enzymatic activity.

The interplay of albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LYZ) adsorbed simultaneously on titanium was analyzed by gel electrophoresis and BCA assay. It was found that BSA and lysozyme adsorb cooperatively. Additionally, the isoelectric point of the respective protein influences the adsorption. Also, the enzymatic activity of lysozyme and amylase (AMY) in mixtures with BSA was considered with respect to a possible influence of protein-protein interaction on enzyme activity. Indeed, an increase of lysozyme activity in the presence of BSA could be observed. In contrast, BSA does not influence the activity of amylase.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of beech wood lignocellulose at high solid contents and its utilization as substrate for the production of biobutanol and dicarboxylic acids.

The development of a cost-effective hydrolysis for crude cellulose is an essential part of biorefinery developments. To establish such high solid hydrolysis, a new solid state reactor with static mixing is used. However, concentrations >10% (w/w) cause a rate and yield reduction of enzymatic hydrolysis. By optimizing the synergetic activity of cellulolytic enzymes at solid concentrations of 9%, 17% and 23% (w/w) of crude Organosolv cellulose, glucose concentrations of 57, 113 and 152 g L(-1) are reached. However, the glucose yield decreases from 0.81 to 0.72 g g(-1) at 17% (w/w). Optimal conditions for hydrolysis scale-up under minimal enzyme addition are identified. As result, at 23% (w/w) crude cellulose the glucose yield increases from 0.29 to 0.49 g g(-1). As proof of its applicability, biobutanol, succinic and itaconic acid are produced with the crude hydrolysate. The potential of the substrate is proven e.g. by a high butanol yield of 0.33 g g(-1).

Paracoccus denitrificans for the effluent recycling during continuous denitrification of liquid food.

Nitrate is an undesirable component of several foods. A typical case of contamination with high nitrate contents is whey concentrate, containing nitrate in concentrations up to 25 l. The microbiological removal of nitrate by Paracoccus denitrificans under formation of harmless nitrogen in combination with a cell retention reactor is described here. Focus lies on the resource-conserving design of a microbal denitrification process. Two methods are compared. The application of polyvinyl alcohol-immobilized cells, which can be applied several times in whey feed, is compared with the implementation of a two step denitrification system. First, the whey concentrate's nitrate is removed by ion exchange and subsequently the eluent regenerated by microorganisms under their retention by crossflow filtration. Nitrite and nitrate concentrations were determined by reflectometric color measurement with a commercially available Reflectoquant device. Correction factors for these media had to be determined. During the pilot development, bioreactors from 4 to 250 mg x L(-1) and crossflow units with membrane areas from 0.02 to 0.80 m(2) were examined. Based on the results of the pilot plants, a scaling for the exemplary process of denitrifying 1,000 tons per day is discussed.

A semi-quantitative dipstick assay for microcystin.

An immunochromatographic lateral flow dipstick assay for the fast detection of microcystin-LR was developed. Colloid gold particles with diameters of 40 nm were used as red-colored antibody labels for the visual detection of the antigen. The new dipstick sensor is capable of detecting down to 5 microg x l(-1) (ppb; total inversion of the color signal) or 1 ppb (observation of color grading) of microcystin-LR. The course of the labeling reaction was observed via spectrometric wave shifts caused by the change of particle size during the binding of antibodies. Different stabilizing reagents showed that especially bovine serum albumin (BSA) and casein increase the assays sensitivity and the conjugate stability. Performance of the dipsticks was quantified by pattern processing of capture zone CCD images. Storage stability of dipsticks and conjugate suspensions over 115 days under different conditions were monitored. The ready-to-use dipsticks were successfully tested with microcystin-LR-spiked samples of outdoor drinking- and salt water and applied to the tissue of microcystin-fed mussels.

Combination of biotransformation and chromatography for the isolation and purification of mannoheptulose.

Mannoheptulose is a seven-carbon sugar. It is an inhibitor of glucose-induced insulin secretion due to its ability to selectively inhibit the enzyme glucokinase. An improved procedure for mannoheptulose isolation from avocados is described in this study (based upon the original method by La Forge). The study focuses on the combination of biotransformation and downstream processing (preparative chromatography) as an efficient method to produce a pure extract of mannoheptulose. The experiments were divided into two major phases. In the first phase, several methods and parameters were compared to optimize the mannoheptulose extraction with respect to efficiency and purity. In the second phase, a mass balance of mannoheptulose over the whole extraction process was undertaken to estimate the yield and efficiency of the total extraction process. The combination of biotransformation and preparative chromatography allowed the production of a pure mannoheptulose extract. In a biological test, the sugar inhibited the glucokinase enzyme activity efficiently.