title: Microbial advanced biofuels production: overcoming emulsification challenges for large-scale operation.
abstract: Isoprenoids and alkanes produced and secreted by microorganisms are emerging as an alternative biofuel for diesel and jet fuel replacements. In a similar way as for other bioprocesses comprising an organic liquid phase, the presence of microorganisms, medium composition, and process conditions may result in emulsion formation during fermentation, hindering product recovery. At the same time, a low-cost production process overcoming this challenge is required to make these advanced biofuels a feasible alternative. We review the main mechanisms and causes of emulsion formation during fermentation, because a better understanding on the microscale can give insights into how to improve large-scale processes and the process technology options that can address these challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Heeres
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina S F
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Picone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands; BE-Basic Foundation, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Luuk A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: van der Wielen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosiane L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.c.cuellar@tudelft.nl.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cuellar
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology; D004655:Emulsions; D005285:Fermentation; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D004655:Emulsions; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
keywords: Pickering stabilization; advanced biofuels; bioemulsifiers; biosurfactants; multiphase fermentation; oil recovery