Peterson, E.C.; Hermansen, C.; Yong, A.; Siao, R.; Chua, G.G.; Ho, S.; Busran, C.T.; Teo, M.; Thong, A.; Weingarten, M.; et al. Two-Stage Bioconversion of Cellulose to Single-Cell Protein and Oil via a Cellulolytic Consortium. Fermentation 2025, 11, 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11020072
Abstract:
A novel approach for converting non-edible plant biomass into single-cell protein and oil (SCPO) via consolidated bioprocessing has been established, leveraging aerotolerant thermophilic cellulolytic consortia consisting mainly of Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, Sporolactobacillus spp. and Clostridium sensu stricto to achieve the rapid and complete conversion of crystalline cellulose into a consistent cocktail of lactate, acetate and ethanol. This cocktail is an excellent substrate for cultivating organisms for SCPO production and food and feed applications, including Cyberlindnera jadinii, Yarrowia lipolytica and Corynebacterium glutamicum. Cultivation on this cocktail resulted in yields (YX/S) of up to 0.43 ± 0.012 g/g, indicating a yield from cellulose (YX/Cellulose) of up to 0.27 ± 0.007 g/g (dwb). The resulting SCPO was rich in protein (42.5% to 57.9%), essential amino acids (27.8% to 43.2%) and lipids (7.9% to 8.4%), with unsaturated fatty acid fractions of up to 89%. Unlike fermentation feedstocks derived from easily digested feedstocks (i.e., food waste), this approach has been applied to cellulosic biomass, and this mixed-culture bioconversion can be carried out without adding expensive enzymes. This two-stage cellulosic bioconversion can unlock non-edible plant biomass as an untapped feedstock for food and feed production, with the potential to strengthen resiliency and circularity in food systems.
License type:
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Singapore Food Story R&D Programme Theme 2 Industry Alignment Fund - Pre-Positioning Cycle 2 on Advanced Biotech-Based Protein Production Programme
Grant Reference no. : A21H7a0132
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Singapore Food Story R&D Programme Theme 2: Future Foods—Whitespace Programme for Shared Lab Facilities
Grant Reference no. : W22W2D0001
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Singapore Food Story (SFS) R&D Programme 1.0 Theme 2 Future Foods: Shared Lab Facilities Whitespace Funding
Grant Reference no. : W23W2D0012
This research / project is supported by the Singapore Institute Food & Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Central Funds, Council Strategic Funds, BMRC Programmes
Grant Reference no. : C210314014
This research / project is supported by the Singapore Institute Food & Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Central Funds, Council Strategic Funds, BMRC Programmes
Grant Reference no. : C210314016
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Horizontal Technology Programme Office (HPTO) Seed Fund
Grant Reference no. : C211018002
Description:
This manuscript is originally published as:
E.C. Peterson, C. Hermansen, A. Yong, R. Siao, G.G. Chua, S. Ho, C. Toledo-Busran, M. Teo, A. Thong, M. Weingarten, N. Lindley, "Two-stage bioconversion of cellulose to single cell protein and oil via a cellulolytic consortium," Fermentation 2025, 11 (2), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11020072