Chapter 15: Influence of Particle Size on Direct Microbial Conversion of Hot Water-Pretreated Poplar by Clostridium thermocellum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Multiple factors play a role in the direct microbial conversion of biomass. Particle size has been shown to play a significant role in achieving efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass with free cellulase systems. In this study, the direct microbial conversion performance of Clostridium thermocellum is evaluated utilizing hot water extracted poplar sized by sieving to particles ranging between 63 μm to 6 mm, using conditions which maintain the chemical composition. Culture carbon:nitrogen ratios and dry weights were used to differentiate the contribution of microbial mass from residual poplar mass. This work shows that for poplar, the substrate particle size influences the overall biomass conversion by C. thermocellum, with particles sized between 63 μm and 250 μm displaying the greatest conversion (50%). Moreover, the complex nature of biomass (i.e., chemical composition, structure, porosity, etc.) appears to play a greater role than particle size in influencing the overall potential for microbial conversion.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationDirect Microbial Conversion of Biomass to Advanced Biofuels
EditorsM. E. Himmel
PublisherElsevier
Pages307-319
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)9780444595928
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CH-2700-63349

Keywords

  • Clostridium thermocellum
  • Direct microbial conversion
  • DMC
  • Particle size
  • Poplar

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