Toluene degradation by a water/silicone oil mixture for the design of two phase partitioning bioreactors

Toluene degradation performances were studied in a 10 L Two-Phase Partitioning Bioreactor(TPPB).The liquid phase consisted of a mixture of water and PDMS 50(Poly Di Methyl Siloxane,i.e.silicone oil,viscosity of 46 m Pa·s) in the volume ratio of 75%/25%.Two series of experiments were carried out:in the first,the reactor was sequentially supplied with toluene whereas in the second,toluene was continuously supplied.Activated sludge from the wastewater treatment plant of Beaurade(Rennes,France) was used at an initial concentration of 0.5 dry mass g·(mixture L)^(-1).The elimination capacity(EC) was investigated as well as the change in biomass concentration over time.Toluene biodegradation was very ef ficient(removal ef ficiency,RE=100%) for toluene flows ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 ml·h^(-1),corresponding to elimination capacities of up to 104 g·m^(-3)·h^(-1).For a toluene flow of 1.2 ml·h^(-1),the biomass concentration measured at the end of the experiment was 4.7 dry mass g·(mixture L)^(-1).The oxygen concentration in the liquid phase was clearly not a limiting factor in these operating conditions.Based on these results,an extrapolation leading to the design of a large-scale pilot TPPB can now be considered to study toluene degradation performances in industrial conditions.

Identification, Cloning and Characterization of Dictyoglomus Turgidum CelA, an Endoglucanase with Cellulase and Mannanase Activity

The discovery of new, highly active, biomass-degrading enzymes is important to the development of a sustainable biofuels industry. Dictyoglomus turgidum, a thermophilic, anaerobic eubacterium that ferments cellulose and produces ethanol and hydrogen, was chosen as a candidate to screen for novel enzymes. A novel thermostable endoglucanase, CelA, was identified and purified during screening of a shotgun library of Dic（yoglomus turgidum and subsequently subcloned and expressed in E. coli. The celA gene coding for a 312 amino acid protein showed low homology to proteins outside the genus Dictoglomi and lacked an apparent signal peptide. CelA had a broad substrate range, possessing both endo and exo activity on soluble and insoluble β-（1,4）-Iinked glucose-containing substrates as well as endo activity on soluble and insoluble β-（1,4）-linked mannose containing substrates. The specific activity of CelA was 226 U/rag using β-glucan, 66 U/mg using glucomannan, and 63 U/mg using CMC as substrates. The high temperature optimum of 70 ℃ to 80 ℃ and wide substrate range of the enzyme might make it an excellent tool for biomass degradation at high temperature.

Selective ligninolysis of wheat straw and wood chips by the white-rot fungus Lentinula edodes and its influence on in vitro rumen degradability

Background： The present work investigated the influence of lignin content and composition in the fungal treatment of lignocellulosic biomass in order to improve rumen degradability. Wheat straw and wood chips,differing in lignin composition, were treated with Lentinula edodes for 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 wk and the changes occurring during fungal degradation were analyzed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and detergent fiber analysis.Results： L. edodes preferentially degraded lignin, with only limited cellulose degradation, in wheat straw and wood chips, leaving a substrate enriched in cellulose. Syringyl（S）-lignin units were preferentially degraded than guaiacyl（G）-lignin units, resulting in a decreased S/G ratio. A decreasing S/G ratio（wheat straw： r =-0.72, wood chips： r =-0.75） and selective lignin degradation（wheat straw： r =-0.69, wood chips： r =-0.88） were correlated with in vitro gas production（IVGP）, a good indicator for rumen degradability.Conclusions： L. edodes treatment increased the IVGP of wheat straw and wood chips. Effects on IVGP were similar for wheat straw and wood chips indicating that lignin content and 3D-structure of cell walls influence in vitro rumen degradability more than lignin composition.

The effect of particle size and amount of inoculum on fungal treatment of wheat straw and wood chips

Background： The aim of this study was to optimize the fungal treatment of lignocellulosic biomass by stimulating the colonization. Wheat straw and wood chips were treated with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Lentinula edodes with various amounts of colonized millet grains（0.5, 1.5 or 3.0 % per g of wet weight of substrate） added to the substrates. Also, wheat straw and wood chips were chopped to either 0.5 or 2 cm.Effectiveness of the fungal treatment after 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 wk of incubation was determined by changes in chemical composition, in vitro gas production（IVGP） as a measure for rumen degradability, and ergosterol content as a measure of fungal biomass.Results： Incomplete colonization was observed for C. subvermispora treated wheat straw and L. edodes treated wood chips. The different particle sizes and amounts of inoculum tested, had no significant effects on the chemical composition and the IVGP of C. subvermispora treated wood chips. Particle size did influence L.edodes treatment of wheat straw. The L. edodes treatment of 2 cm wheat straw resulted in a more selective delignification and a higher IVGP than the smaller particles. Addition of 1.5 % or 3 % L. edodes inoculum to wheat straw resulted in more selective delignification and a higher IVGP than addition of 0.5 % inoculum.Conclusion： Particle size and amount of inoculum did not have an effect on C. subvermispora treatment of wood chips. At least 1.5 % L. edodes colonized millet grains should be added to 2 cm wheat straw to result in an increased IVGP and acid detergent lignin（ADL） degradation.