Rhizopus oryzae for Fumaric Acid Production: Optimising the Use of a Synthetic Lignocellulosic Hydrolysate

The hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass opens an array bioconversion possibilities for producing fuels and chemicals. Microbial fermentation is particularly suited to the conversion sugar-rich hydrolysates into biochemicals. Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 20344 was employed produce fumaric acid from glucose, xylose, a synthetic hydrolysate (glucose–xylose mixture) in batch continuous fermentations. A novel immobilised reactor used investigate co-fermentation xylose glucose. Ideal medium conditions substrate feed strategy were then optimise production acid. at optimal (urea rate 0.625mgL?1h?1 pH 4) produced yield 0.439gg?1. specific (0.164gL?1h?1) that negated ethanol selected determined. Using this fermentation, 0.735gg?1 achieved; 67.4% improvement. metabolic analysis helped determine while achieving glucose thus avoiding undesirable carbon catabolite repression. This work demonstrates viability hydrolysate; process developments discovered will pave way industrially viable process.