Cultivation of Cupriavidus necatorstrains on hydrolyzed lignocellulosic feedstocks widely available in Europe

TL;DR

This study explores using various European lignocellulosic feedstocks to grow Cupriavidus necator, a bacterium with potential in sustainable biorefineries.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that Cupriavidus necator can grow on multiple lignocellulosic hydrolysates without detoxification.

Findings

Cupriavidus necator strains grew on 16 lignocellulosic hydrolysates as the sole carbon source.

No prior detoxification was required for the bacteria to grow on the hydrolysates.

Steam explosion pretreatment was effective for various feedstocks like wheat straw and wood.

Abstract

•Wheat straw, beech, pine, spruce and Miscanthus were investigated as feedstocks.•Physico-chemical pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and solid-liquid separation of biomasses were carried out.•Obtained fermentable sugars and inhibitory compounds were quantified.•Growth of Cupriavidus necator strains on different lignocellulosic hydrolysates was studied.

Wheat straw, beech, pine, spruce and Miscanthus were investigated as feedstocks.

Physico-chemical pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and solid-liquid separation of biomasses were carried out.

Obtained fermentable sugars and inhibitory compounds were quantified.

Growth of Cupriavidus necator strains on different lignocellulosic hydrolysates was studied.

Today, 85 % of the carbon in organic chemicals and their derivatives comes from fossil sources. Replacing fossil-based materials with sustainable sources requires large quantities of feedstocks and mature technologies. Biorefineries based on lignocellulose have great potential to replace fossil raw materials in the short and medium term. Here we want to pave the way for the bacterium Cupriavidus necator as a versatile biotechnological workhorse in future biorefineries. Wheat straw, beech, pine and spruce reflect lignocellulosic biomass from the agricultural waste and wood sectors that is widespread in Europe. Miscanthus was chosen as an emerging energy crop. Lignocellulose feedstocks were pretreated by steam explosion under variable conditions prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Native Cupriavidus necator and a strain adapted by laboratory evolution were shown to grow on 16 filtered lignocellulosic hydrolysates as the sole carbon source and without prior detoxification.

Image, graphical abstract

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