title: Fermentation of wet-exploded corn stover for the production of volatile fatty acids.
abstract: Volatile fatty acids (VFA) have been used as platform molecules for production of biofuels and bioproducts. In the current study, we examine the VFA production from wet-exploded corn stover through anaerobic fermentation using rumen bacteria. The total VFA yield (acetic acid equivalents) was found to increase from 22.8g/L at 2.5% total solids (TS) to 40.8g/L at 5% TS. It was found that the acetic acid concentration increased from 10g/L to 22g/L at 2.5% and 5% TS, respectively. An increased propionic acid production was seen between day 10 and 20 at 5% TS. Valeric acid (4g/L) was produced at 5% TS and not at 2.5% TS. Composition analysis showed that 50% of the carbohydrates were converted to VFA at 5% TS and 33% at 2.5% TS. Our results show that rumen fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass after wet explosion can produce high concentrations of VFA without addition of external enzymes of importance for the process economics of lignocellulosic biorefineries.
authors.affiliation: Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University, Tri-Cities, Richland, WA 99354, United States.
authors.forename: Nanditha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.affiliation: Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University, Tri-Cities, Richland, WA 99354, United States.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University, Tri-Cities, Richland, WA 99354, United States. Electronic address: bka@wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Birgitte Kiaer
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ahring
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005285:Fermentation; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D014867:Water; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Acetic acid; Anaerobic fermentation; Corn stover; Rumen; Volatile fatty acids