Reducing the Effect of Variable Starch Levels in Biomass Recalcitrance Screening
No abstract prepared.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
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Results for “biomass compositional analysis”
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Rapid and high-throughput determination of sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) biomass composition using near infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics
Compositional characterization of biomass is vital for the biofuel industry. Traditional wet chemistry-based methods for analyzing biomass composition are laborious, time-consuming, and require extensive use of chemical reagents as well as highly skilled personnel. In this study, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used to quickly assess the composition of above-ground vegetative biomass from 113 diverse, photoperiod-sensitive, biomass-type sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) accessions cultivated under field conditions in Central Illinois. Biomass samples were analyzed using NIR spectra collected in the spectral range of 867–2536 nm, with their chemical compositions determined following the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) protocol. Advanced spectral pre-treatment and band selection techniques were utilized to develop calibration models using partial least squares regression (PLSR). The models’ effectiveness was assessed through cross-validation and independent data tests. The predictions for moisture, ash, extractives, glucan, xylan, acid-soluble lignin (ASL), acid-insoluble lignin (AIL), and total lignin were accurate and reliable, demonstrating the capability of NIR spectroscopy to provide rapid and precise characterization of sorghum biomass. The results demonstrated that NIR spectroscopy is an efficient tool for rapidly characterizing sorghum biomass, making it a sustainable option for screening desirable feedstock for biofuel or bioproduct production.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Influence of particle size on NIR spectroscopic characterization of sorghum biomass for the biofuel industry
NIR spectroscopy is a rapid and accurate green technology for high-throughput biomass characterization, including sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), a promising energy crop for the biofuel industry. This study assessed the influence of particle size on NIR spectroscopic analysis (wavelength range: 867–2535 nm) of sorghum biomass composition. Grown under field conditions, a total of 113 types of genetically diverse sorghum accessions were dried, ground, and sieved (<250, 250–600, 600–850, and > 850 µm particle size) for developing partial least square regression (PLSR) prediction models for moisture, ash, extractive, glucan, xylan, acid-soluble lignin (ASL), acid-insoluble lignin (AIL), and total lignin (ASL + AIL). Overall, smaller particle sizes provided better model performance, while no single particle size provided the best performance for all the selected components. With only 9 selected bands and 4 latent variables (LVs), the best PLSR model was obtained for moisture with particle size of 600–850 µm with the square root of the coefficient of determination (R) of 0.85, the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) of 2.2, and the root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.46 % in external validation. Similar model performances were also obtained for ash, extractive, glucan, and xylan. This study showed that size reduction could effectively improve NIR spectroscopic analysis for lipid-producing sorghum biomass for the biofuel industry.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Effect of Blended Feedstock on Pyrolysis Oil Composition
Current techno-economic analysis results indicate biomass feedstock cost represents 27% of the overall minimum fuel selling price for biofuels produced from fast pyrolysis followed by hydrotreating (hydro-deoxygenation, HDO). As a result, blended feedstocks have been proposed as a way to both reduce cost as well as tailor key chemistry for improved fuel quality. For this study, two feedstocks were provided by Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Both were pyrolyzed and collected under the same conditions in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Thermochemical Process Development Unit (TCPDU). The resulting oil properties were then analyzed and characterized for statistical differences.
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Near-infrared spectroscopy as a green analytical tool for sustainable biomass characterization for biofuels and bioproducts: An overview
Biomass, a widely used renewable energy source, requires characterization to optimize biofuel and bioproduct processes, customize feedstocks, and ensure economic and environmental sustainability. Conventional wet-chemistry methods for biomass analysis are slow, expensive, and require significant reagents and skilled personnel. In contrast, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, a faster, cost-effective, and reagent-free green technology, enables non-destructive biomass analysis with minimal sample preparation. This study provides an overview of the fundamentals of NIR spectroscopy and explores its recent applications for analyzing various biomass properties important to the biofuel and bioproduct industry. The study also critically evaluates the challenges and opportunities of using NIR spectroscopy for biomass analysis. This review aims to guide future research for rapid and high throughput characterization of biomass in the biomass industry, supporting the United Nations’ sustainable development goal (SDG) 7: producing affordable and sustainable energy.
Biofuels↗
Proteomics based compositional analysis of complex cellulase-hemicellulase mixtures
Efficient deconstruction of cellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars for fuel and chemical production is accomplished by a complex mixture of cellulases, hemicellulases and accessory enzymes (e.g., >50 extracellular proteins). Cellulolytic enzyme mixtures, produced industrially mostly using fungi like Trichoderma reesei, are poorly characterized in terms of their protein composition and its correlation to hydrolytic activity on cellulosic biomass. The secretomes of commercial glycosyl hydrolase producing microbes was explored using a proteomics approach with high-throughput quantification using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Here, we show that proteomics based spectral counting approach is a reasonably accurate and rapid analytical technique that can be used to determine protein composition of complex glycosyl hydrolase mixtures that also correlates with the specific activity of individual enzymes present within the mixture. For example, a strong linear correlation was seen between Avicelase activity and total cellobiohydrolase content. Reliable, quantitative and cheaper analytical methods that provide insight into the cellulosic biomass degrading fungal and bacterial secretomes would lead to further improvements towards commercialization of plant biomass derived fuels and chemicals.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying biomass yield and plant height in switchgrass
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) biomass yield and feedstock quality improvement are priority research areas for bioenergy feedstock development. Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying these traits and of trait-linked markers for application in marker-assisted selection (MAS) is of paramount importance in facilitating switchgrass breeding. Detection of QTL for biomass yield and plant height was conducted on parental linkage maps constructed using a heterozygous pseudo-F-1 population derived from a cross between lowland Alamo genotype AP13 and upland Summer genotype VS16. QTL analysis was performed with composite interval mapping. Four QTL for biomass yield and five QTL for plant height were identified using best linear unbiased predictors across ten and eight environments, respectively. The phenotypic variability explained (PVE) by QTL detected in the across environments analysis ranged from 4.9 to 12.4 % for biomass yield and 5.1 to 12.0 % for plant height. A total of 34 and 38 main effect QTL were detected for biomass yield and plant height, respectively, when data from each environment were analyzed separately. The PVE by individual environment QTL ranged from 3.3 to 15.3 % for biomass yield and from 4.3 to 17.4 % for plant height. In addition, 60 and 51 epistatic QTL were detected for biomass yield and plant height, respectively. Significant QTL by environment interactions were detected for QTL mapped in eight genomic regions for each of the two traits. Seven QTL affected both traits and may represent pleiotropic loci. Overall, 11 genomic regions were identified that were important in controlling biomass yield and/or plant height in switchgrass. Furthermore, the markers linked to the main effect and epistatic QTL may be used in MAS to maximize selection gain in switchgrass breeding, leading to a faster development of better biofuel cultivars.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Physicochemical Changes of Cellulose and Their Influences on Populus trichocarpa Digestibility after Different Pretreatments
Pretreatment is commonly used to reduce recalcitrance of the lignin-carbohydrate matrix. In this study, leading pretreatment technologies, including dilute sulfuric acid, liquid hot water, alkaline, and organosolv pretreatments, were applied to the selected Populus trichocarpa genotype with relatively low lignin content to elucidate cellulose physicochemical property changes and digestibility-related factors. Pretreated Populus trichocarpa (BESC 131) exhibited higher accessibility and glucose yield than the untreated biomass. Chemical composition and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis results revealed that hemicellulose and lignin were removed to a varying extent depending on the pretreatment techniques applied. Here, the degree of polymerization of the cellulose was decreased to the largest extent after dilute acid pretreatment, followed by organosolv, alkaline, and liquid hot water pretreatments. Cellulose crystallinity index was slightly changed after the pretreatments; however, its differences were not remarkable between those pretreatment techniques. Among four different pretreatments, organosolv was the most effective pretreatment technology in terms of sugar release, which was three times higher than that of the untreated native biomass. Among all of the tested cell wall traits, the lignin content of Populus trichocarpa was the most remarkable feature associated with glucose release, though Populus trichocarpa recalcitrance was not solely dependent on any single factor.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Data for Influence of Particle Size on NIR Spectroscopic Characterization of Sorghum Biomass for the Biofuel Industry
NIR spectroscopy is a rapid and accurate green technology for high-throughput biomass characterization, including sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), a promising energy crop for the biofuel industry. This study assessed the influence of particle size on NIR spectroscopic analysis (wavelength range: 867–2535 nm) of sorghum biomass composition. Grown under field conditions, a total of 113 types of genetically diverse sorghum accessions were dried, ground, and sieved (<250, 250–600, 600–850, and > 850 µm particle size) for developing partial least square regression (PLSR) prediction models for moisture, ash, extractive, glucan, xylan, acid-soluble lignin (ASL), acid-insoluble lignin (AIL), and total lignin (ASL + AIL). Overall, smaller particle sizes provided better model performance, while no single particle size provided the best performance for all the selected components. With only 9 selected bands and 4 latent variables (LVs), the best PLSR model was obtained for moisture with particle size of 600–850 µm with the square root of the coefficient of determination (R) of 0.85, the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) of 2.2, and the root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.46 % in external validation. Similar model performances were also obtained for ash, extractive, glucan, and xylan. This study showed that size reduction could effectively improve NIR spectroscopic analysis for lipid-producing sorghum biomass for the biofuel industry.
Biomass Analytics↗
Drought effects on composition and yield for corn stover, mixed grasses, and Miscanthus as bioenergy feedstocks
Drought conditions in 2012 were some of the most severe reported in the United States. It is necessary to explore the effects of drought on the quality attributes of current and potential bioenergy feedstocks. Compositional analysis data for corn stover, Miscanthus, and CRP grasses from one or more locations for years 2010 (normal precipitation levels) and 2012 (a known severe drought year nationally) was collected. Results & discussion: The general trend for samples that experienced drought was an increase in extractives and a decrease in structural sugars and lignin. The TEY yields were calculated to determine the drought effects on ethanol production. All three feedstocks had a decrease of 12-14% in TEY when only decreases of carbohydrate content was analyzed. When looking at the compounded effect of both carbohydrate content and the decreases in dry matter loss for each feedstock there was a TEY decrease of 25%-59%. Conclusion: Drought had a significant impact on the quality of all three bioenergy crops. In all cases where drought was experienced both the quality of the feedstock and the yield decreased. These drought induced effects could have significant economic impacts on biorefineries.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Self-Buffering system for Cost-Effective production of lactic acid from glucose and xylose using Acid-Tolerant Issatchenkia orientalis
This study presents a cost-effective strategy for producing organic acids from glucose and xylose using the acid- tolerant yeast, Issatchenkia orientalis. I. orientalis was engineered to produce lactic acid from xylose, and the resulting strain, SD108XL, successfully converted sorghum hydrolysates into lactic acid. In order to enable low- pH fermentation, a self-buffering strategy, where the lactic acid generated by the SD108XL strain during fermentation served as a buffer, was developed. As a result, the SD108 strain produced 67 g/L of lactic acid from 73 g/L of glucose and 40 g/L of xylose, simulating a sugar composition of sorghum biomass hydrolysates. Moreover, techno-economic analysis underscored the efficiency of the self-buffering strategy in streamlining the downstream process, thereby reducing production costs. These results demonstrate the potential of I. orientalis as a platform strain for the cost-effective production of organic acids from cellulosic hydrolysates.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Data for Self-Buffering System for Cost-Effective Production of Lactic Acid from Glucose and Xylose Using Acid-Tolerant Issatchenkia orientalis
This study presents a cost-effective strategy for producing organic acids from glucose and xylose using the acid-tolerant yeast, Issatchenkia orientalis . I. orientalis was engineered to produce lactic acid from xylose, and the resulting strain, SD108XL, successfully converted sorghum hydrolysates into lactic acid. In order to enable low-pH fermentation, a self-buffering strategy, where the lactic acid generated by the SD108XL strain during fermentation served as a buffer, was developed. As a result, the SD108 strain produced 67 g/L of lactic acid from 73 g/L of glucose and 40 g/L of xylose, simulating a sugar composition of sorghum biomass hydrolysates. Moreover, techno-economic analysis underscored the efficiency of the self-buffering strategy in streamlining the downstream process, thereby reducing production costs. These results demonstrate the potential of I. orientalis as a platform strain for the cost-effective production of organic acids from cellulosic hydrolysates.
Conversion↗
Impact of Storage Conditions on the Quality and Viability of Switchgrass as a Bioenergy Crop
With growing energy demands and climate concerns, advancements in bioenergy have become imperative. Biofuels promote energy independence, reduce fossil fuel reliance, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatumis) is an ideal bioenergy crop due to its ability to thrive on marginal lands unsuitable for food crops and its drought tolerance, rendering it a low-maintenance, high-yield option. In the bioenergy industry, energy crops are typically stored to facilitate supply chain management and ensure a continuous supply despite seasonal availability. However, the effective utilization of bioenergy crops is typically contingent upon addressing the challenges associated with biomass storage. These challenges include high moisture content that promotes biological degradation of the biomass leading to increased risk of pathogenic microbes, and chemical degradation that increases the ratio of inconvertible, inorganic materials. These issues lead to a reduction of feedstock value, diminishing the biomass-to-biofuel conversion efficacy, making switchgrass and other bioenergy crops less effective as fuel sources. This project aims to improve the storage of purpose-grown energy crops. Aerobic storage trials were conducted under varying moisture contents to stimulate real-world environmental exposure. Switchgrass samples were rewetted to 30% or 35% and stored in a bioreactor for approximately one month, or until cellular respiration ceased. Degradation indicators, such as dry matter loss, temperature changes, and cellular respiration, were measured throughout this process. Samples for compositional analysis, 16S, and ITS were taken at three different time points: before, during, and after storage, to monitor changes in biomass, microbial communities, and metabolites over time. Preliminary data indicate that dry matter loss is proportional to cellular respiration, with higher moisture content (35%) leading to higher temperatures and elevated dry matter loss. Compositional analysis and microbial community analysis are in progress. This research will provide a comprehensive understanding of storage, helping to identify stability factors in energy crops and improve best management practices for biomass producers.
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Ionic-Liquid Induced Changes in Cellulose Structure Associated with Enhanced Biomass Hydrolysis
The effects of varying ionic liquid pretreatment parameters on various sources of lignocellulosic biomass have been studied using X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray fiber diffraction, and compositional analysis. Comparative enzymatic hydrolysis and sugar analysis were used to relate the observed changes in cellulose structure to biomass digestibility. In this study, the factor most clearly associated with enhanced biomass hydrolysis is the conversion of cellulose fibers from the cellulose I to the cellulose II crystal phase.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Multicriteria-Based Selection of Microalgae Biorefineries: Biomass Composition Defines the Most Suitable Product Portfolios
The supply of microalgae-derived biofuels and bioproducts will be vital in a global-scale bioeconomy. As the diversity of microalgae strains and their compositional plasticity may yield a wide array of products of market interest, the design of effective biorefineries is a central aspect in the path to making microalgae-based products available in the market. In this way, the conversion of microalgae biomass should be planned to employ mature technologies, while maximizing economic and environmental benefits obtained from a diverse product portfolio. This study applied sequential, hybrid Multicriteria Decision Analyses (MCDA) to aid the decision-making process of outlining the most suitable biorefining pathways for specific compositional profiles. For this, the methodology simultaneously considered multiple technical, economic, and environmental criteria, such as market aspects for the main algae-derived products, potential reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provided by the biobased alternatives, and technology readiness level of conversion routes, among others. The framework was tested using productivity and compositional data for 13 high-productivity summer strains cultivated under varying nutrient availability. The analysis pointed to compositional profile being a key driver in defining the core biorefining strategy of algae biomass, with lipid-to-carbohydrate ratios higher than roughly 1 warranting the preferential processing of lipids into hydrocarbon fuels with the remainder of the algae biomass compounds being sent to higher-value applications, such as carboxylic acids and renewable thermoplastic substitutes. An in-depth process simulation, techno-economic assessment (TEA), and life-cycle analysis (LCA) effort was carried out as a closing step to corroborate the results stemming from the proposed framework. This study validates the use of MCDAs as a screening method prior to implementing more time-consuming analysis techniques and makes a compelling case for this approach as a product selection tool on a wide range of algae species, thus helping establish species-agnostic (but composition-driven) biorefineries.
biofuels↗
Effect of nitrogen management in cultivation on the stability and microbial community of post-harvest Monoraphidium sp. algae biomass
Seasonal variation in algae biomass productivity is a significant obstacle to the economical production of fuels and chemicals from algae biomass. Long-term storage is necessary to guarantee a constant supply to a conversion facility and harvested microalgae biomass (20% solids) is subject to degradation immediately upon harvesting as a result of aerobic instability. Ensiling has been successfully used to preserve microalgal biomass, but biomass attributes that contribute to successful storage are poorly understood. Storage studies of Monoraphidium sp. biomass indicate a strong correlation between nitrogen management in algae cultivation and stability of post-harvest algae biomass in 30 days of anaerobic storage. Algae cultivated with periodic nitrogen addition stored poorly (> 20% loss, dry basis), while algae biomass from cultures that were allowed to continue growing after nitrogen depletion was more stable in storage (8% loss, dry basis). A follow-up study aimed at exploring the relationship between nitrogen management in cultivation and stability of post-harvest algae biomass stored Monoraphidium biomass cultivated in nitrogen deplete and nitrogen replete conditions, as well as with blends of each in varying ratios. Monoraphidium biomass from nitrogen replete cultivations experienced the largest degradation (24%, dry basis), while nitrogen deplete biomass experienced the least (10%, dry basis). Dry matter loss experienced during storage of blends was positively correlated with the amount of nitrogen replete biomass that a blend contained. Further, the composition of the post-storage algae microbial community was also strongly affected by cultivation conditions, with Clostridia species being more prevalent in stored biomass obtained from nitrogen replete cultivations. Nitrogen management has long been known to influence algae biomass productivity and biochemical composition; here, we demonstrate that it also strongly influences the stability of post-harvest algae biomass in anaerobic storage.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Agronomic performance of 27 Populus clones evaluated after two 3–year coppice rotations in Henan, China
Selecting superior clones is the first step for commercial short–rotation coppice cultures to provide biomass and bioenergy. Till date, such selection for hybrid Populus clones in middle China is absent. Here we describe the growth, aboveground biomass production and cell wall composition of 27 hybrid poplar clones in Henan, China for two 3–year rotations. Significant variation in these three characteristics over two triennial rotation coppices among the 27 poplar clones was observed. During two 3–year rotation coppices, clones ‘276’, ‘02–17’, and ‘599’ showed relatively higher tree heights and larger basal diameters than those of the other clones. However, the most productive clones were ‘36’ and ‘01–30’. At the end of the second triennial rotation, the aboveground biomass production reached 18 Mg ha–1 year–1. For the cell wall composition analysis, the cellulose contents of clones ‘01–243’ and ‘2001’ were relatively high, while the xylose contents of clones ‘01–30’ and ‘65’ were relatively high. Cluster analysis based on height, basal diameter, biomass, heat value, cellulose content, and survival rate revealed five growth potential classes. Accordingly, clones ‘03–332’, ‘36’, and ‘599’ exhibited high biomass and growth and had the greatest potential to serve as excellent biomass producers in Henan, China. In addition, the expression patterns of 20 key regulatory genes were analyzed, and an integrated coexpression network was constructed. This field trial provides a comprehensive quantification and evaluation of the agronomic performance of 27 poplar clones in Henan, China. The results of this study and the analytical strategies provide an efficient mechanism for selecting clones that will perform well agronomically in local environments. The expression of key genes and the integrated coexpression network provide the molecular mechanisms of poplar biomass performance.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Biomass burning and marine aerosol processing over the southeast Atlantic Ocean: a TEM single-particle analysis
This study characterizes single-particle aerosol composition from filters collected during the ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES) and CLoud–Aerosol–Radiation Interaction and Forcing: Year 2017 (CLARIFY-2017) campaigns. In particular the study describes aged biomass burning aerosol (BBA), its interaction with the marine boundary layer and the influence of biomass burning (BB) air on marine aerosol. The study finds evidence of BBA influenced by marine boundary layer processing as well as sea salt influenced by BB air. Secondary chloride aerosols were observed in clean marine air as well as in BB-influenced air in the free troposphere. Higher-volatility organic aerosol appears to be associated with increased age of biomass burning plumes, and photolysis or oxidation may be a mechanism for the apparent increased volatility. Aqueous processing and interaction with the marine boundary layer air may be a mechanism for the presence of sodium on many aged potassium salts. By number, biomass burning potassium salts and modified sea salts are the most observed particles on filter samples. The most commonly observed BC coatings are inorganic salts. These results suggest that atmospheric processes such as photolysis, oxidation and cloud processing are key drivers in the elemental composition and morphology of aged BBA. Fresh BBA inorganic salt content, as it has an important role in the particles' ability to uptake water, may be a key driver in how aqueous processing and atmospheric aging proceed.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗