SBIR Phase I: Direct Conversion of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks to Lipids and High-Value Products using a Proprietary Microbial Process

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目描述了一种简单、新颖和经济的工艺，用于将木质纤维素原料（如小麦秸秆）转化为脂质，再转化为生物柴油和脂肪酸，用于特殊市场（如蜡酯、硬脂酸/油酸），与现有技术相比，该工艺使用最少的步骤。这里描述的创新技术是基于使用一种从黄石国家公园分离的新型微生物，这种微生物能够承受极端的酸性条件，并能够有效地降解纤维素、木质素和半纤维素。当在最小稀酸培养基中的废弃原料上有氧生长时，该生物体在一步过程中产生高浓度的脂质（细胞体积的30-60%）。SBIR第一阶段的主要目标是确定从各种木质纤维素底物生产脂质的可行性，并确定实验室规模系统下生物燃料生产的脂肪酸概况。 此外，还将评估高价值的商业产品，包括蜡、生物润滑剂和营养品。 初步实验室工作台研究表明，麦秆转化为脂质是生物柴油的理想选择，其含量为80克脂质/公斤干重，本研究的目标是生产110种脂质/公斤，成本分析研究表明这将与化石燃料竞争。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括从丰富的木质纤维素基质中获得脂质（生物燃料前体）的低成本，简单有效的方法的潜力。拟议的创新工艺生产的产品包括生物柴油、用于特殊市场的脂肪酸、用于生物燃料生产的酶以及木制品替代品和燃料颗粒的原料。这些产品将出售给生物柴油生产商和分销商，石化公司，复合材料制造商和燃料颗粒制造商。只有少数公司和研究小组正在研究直接从木质纤维素废物中生产微生物生物柴油，因此，科学界将通过更好地了解木质纤维素材料的直接降解和微生物的脂质生产而受益于这项研究。此外，对本文所述的新型微生物的生长和代谢的研究将直接有益于研究其他产脂菌株的研究人员。这种一步技术的成功将通过提供从可再生资源生产生物燃料和基于生物质的工业产品的新途径对国家产生重大的经济影响。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project describes a simple, novel and economical process for converting lignocellulosic feedstocks, such as wheat straw, to lipids for conversion to biodiesel and fatty acids for specialty markets (e.g. wax esters, stearic/oleic acids) using a minimal number of steps compared to current technologies. The innovative technology described here is based on the use of a novel microorganism isolated from Yellowstone National Park, which is able to withstand extreme acidic conditions and is capable of efficiently degrading cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose. The organism produces high concentrations of lipids (30-60% of cell volume) in a one-step process when grown aerobically on waste feedstocks in minimal dilute acid medium. The primary objective of this SBIR Phase I is to determine the feasibility of lipid production from various lignocellulosic substrates and determine fatty acid profiles for biofuel production under laboratory scale systems. Additionally, high value commercial products will be evaluated including waxes, biolubricants, and nutraceuticals. Preliminary lab bench studies have shown conversion of wheat straw to lipids ideal for biodiesel at 80g lipid/kg dry weight and the goal of this study is to produce 110 lipids/kg, which cost analysis studies indicate would be competitive with fossil fuels. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes the potential for a low cost, simple and effective means for lipids (biofuel precursors) from abundant lignocellulosic substrates. The products produced by the proposed innovative process includes biodiesel, fatty acids for specialty markets, enzymes for biofuel production, and raw material for wood product substitutes and fuel pellets. These products will be sold to biodiesel producers and distributors, petrochemical companies, composite material manufacturers, and fuel pellet manufacturers. Only a few companies and research groups are investigating microbial biodiesel production directly from lignocellulosic waste and, therefore, the scientific community will benefit from this research through a better understanding of direct degradation of lignocellulose materials and production of lipids by microorganisms. Furthermore, research into the growth and metabolisms of the novel microorganism described here will be directly beneficial to researchers studying other lipid producing strains. The success of this one-step technology would have a significant economic impact for the nation by providing a novel route to the production biofuels and biomass based industrial products from renewable sources.