Feedstock for bioproduction

Grain crops, specifically cereal crops, are major feedstocks for the food and fermentation industry because of their high starch and protein content. Cereal crops are by far the most important crops cultivated globally. In 2009 about 2.5 billion tonnes of cereals were produced worldwide (FAO, 2010). Wheat, com, barley and sorghum are the common starch sources that have been traditionally used in food and industrial bioproduct manufacturing. Straw and stocks from cereal crops are also important as lignocellulosic feedstock for bioproduct manufacturing. 

Advanced genetic engineering techniques are being used to improve existing renewable feedstocks for the production of industrial bioproducts. In some cases, the feedstock composition is modified to increase the content of a desired component and/or decrease the content of an undesired component, whereas in others, a new metabolic pathway is inserted into the plant genes so that the modified plant produces an entirely new component. These research efforts are recent, and very little, if any, published information is currently available. However, we provide brief descriptions of the research activities to give perspective on the opportunities for new industrial bioproducts that may emerge from feedstock modification. 

Gallezot, P., Process Options for Converting Renewable Feedstocks to Bioproducts, Green Chem., 9, 295-302 (2007). 

USDOE and USDA, Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply (2005). http //wwwl.eere. en-ergy.gov/biomass/pdfs/final billionton vision report2.pdf... 

Industrial fermentations are used for manufacturing of bioproducts . They predominantly use glucose as a feedstock for the production of proteins, enzymes and chemicals. These fermentations can be batch, fed-batch, or continuous, and operate under controlled-substrate feeding and conditions that form minimal byproducts. Substrate-controlled feeding, pH, dissolved oxygen, and medium composition are critical operating conditions that must be controlled during fermentation in order to optimize fermentation time, yield and efficiency. Currently used methods and feedstocks, however, have drawbacks that reduce the efficiency of the fermentation processes. 

Bioconversion of renewable feedstocks to industrial chemicals has been described. In this chapter, we have illustrated technology that Genencor International has developed to harness biomass as carbon feedstocks for conversion to industrial products and to make available its bioengineered enzymes to convert biomass into fermentable sugars. This research effort provides a means for the production of desired bioproducts by enzymatic conversion of biomass-based feedstock substrates. This concept of using cellulosic biomass for manufacturing industrial chemicals has several incentives that can be explored and implemented. 

Perlack, R.D, Wright, L.L.,Turhollow, A.F., Graham, R.L., Stokes, B.J. Erbach, D.C. Biomass as feedstock for a bioenergy and bioproducts industry the technical feasibility of a billion-ton annual supply. DTIC Document, 2005. 

Traditional and Emerging Feedstocks for Food and Industrial Bioproduct Manufacturing... 

In this chapter, current and potential feedstocks for food and bioproduct manufacturing will be reviewed under three categories grain, oilseed and lignocellulosic biomass, which will include grasses and trees. Microalgae, emerging as a biomass source, will be covered in another chapter of this book. 

Calendula oficinalis seed oil properties are similar to that of tung oil with high viscosity and refractive index and an excellent air-drying tendency, which make these oils excellent feedstock for binders in paints and coatings (Muuse et ah, 1992). Although these crops have been around for a long time further research is needed to exploit their full potential for bioproduct development. 

Perlack RD, Wright LL, TurhoUow AF, Grahtun RL, Stokes BJ, Eibach DC. 2(X)5. Biomass as feedstock for a bioeneigy and bioproducts industry The techniceil feasibility of a billion-ton annutil supply (DOE/ GO-102005-2135). Oak Ridge, TN US Department of Eneigy. 

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