Potential Valorization of Organic Waste Streams to Valuable Organic Acids through Microbial Conversion: A South African Case Study

The notion of a “biobased economy” in the context developing country such as South Africa (SA) necessitates development technologies that utilize sustainable feedstocks, have simple and robust operations, are feasible at small scale produce variety valuable bioproducts, thus fitting biorefinery concept. This case study focuses on microbial production higher-value products from selected organic waste streams abundant African agricultural sector using microbes adapted to different parts biomass streams. A ruminant-based carboxylate platform based mixed or undefined anaerobic co-cultures rumen microorganisms can convert carbohydrate polymers lignocellulosic part carboxylic acids be upgraded biofuels green chemicals. Furthermore, yeast fungi simpler carbohydrates (such sugars malic acid grape apple pomace) ethanol high-value acids, lactic, fumaric, succinic citric acid. review will discuss combinational use ruminal native recombinant yeasts valorize through with various applications.