Engineering topics

Hubbard, Stephen

Publications and source records attributed to Hubbard, Stephen.

4 records

DOE OSTI2017

Analysis and fermentation base-lining to validate cyanobacterial-based polysaccharide production as a viable feedstock for bio-product development (CRADA Final Report)

Researchers at Heliobiosys Inc. and the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have successfully demonstrated recovery, saccharification, and fermentation of polysaccharides excreted by a cyanobacterial consortium. These polysaccharides do not require fresh water or arable land for production and have potential applications as fermentable sugar, as bio-based plastics, and as thickeners and gels. A scalable recovery process was developed: recovery via membrane separation and diafiltration. Characterization of the polysaccharides excreted by the cyanobacterial consortium reveals a mixture of 5 and 6-carbon sugars including significant fractions of glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, and mannose. Fermentation baselining with Rhodosporidium toruloides reveals performance indistinguishable from a pure glucose control condition. Protocols developed as part of this collaboration will now be employed for scale-up testing of the complete cultivation and recovery system in a further collaboration between Heliobiosys Inc., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory, with a focus on de-risking cultivation conditions, downstream applications, and overall process economics.

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DOE OSTI2017

High Performance Polymers from Biomass

The objective of this study was to demonstrate feasibility and scale-up of cellulosic feedstocks for the production of a commercial C6 lactone. Visolis, Inc. has developed a fermentation platform for production of the lactone at high titers and yields. The lactone is used in high-end cosmetics industry and also serves as a valuable intermediate for production of biopolymers and biofuels. Strains employed by Visolis are capable of metabolizing both glucose and xylose, enabling full utilization of cellulosic hydrolysates as feedstock. Visolis and ABPDU conducted a 2L proof-of-concept fermentation campaign followed by a 50L scale-up campaign.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Production of C5 Hydrocarbons from Water Biomass

The objective of this study was to demonstrate feasibility and scale-up of cellulosic feedstocks for the production of a commercial C 6 lactone. Visolis, Inc. has developed a fermentation platform for production of the lactone at high titers and yields. The lactone is used in high-end cosmetics industry and also serves as a valuable intermediate for production of biopolymers and biofuels. Strains employed by Visolis are capable of metabolizing both glucose and xylose, enabling full utilization of cellulosic hydrolysates as feedstock. Visolis and ABPDU conducted a 2L proof-of-concept fermentation campaign followed by a 50L scale-up campaign.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Production of the gasoline additive 3-methylanisole via fermentation of cellulosic sugars. (CRADA Final Report)

Researchers at Rho Renewables and the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have successfully demonstrated a system for biological production of m-cresol and 3-methylanisole. Both molecules are valuable commodity chemicals; 3-methylanisole has favorable properties as a fuel additive while m-cresol is widely used as a flavor and vitamin intermediate. Recovery of volatile 3-methylanisole from fermenter off-gas was documented using both in situ extractive fermentation and ex situ solvent traps. This work demonstrates the feasibility of m-cresol and 3-methylanisole production under industrially relevant conditions and helps pave the way for larger scale production.

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