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Towards closed carbon loop fermentations: co-feeding of Yarrowia lipolytica with glucose and formic acid
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  • Wouter Van Winden,
  • Robert Mans,
  • Stefaan Breestraat,
  • Rob Verlinden,
  • Alvaro Mielgo-Gómez,
  • Erik de Hulster,
  • Hans De Bruijn,
  • Henk Noorman
Wouter Van Winden
DSM Biotechnology Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Robert Mans
Delft University of Technology
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Stefaan Breestraat
Bioprocess Pilot Facility
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Rob Verlinden
Bioprocess Pilot Facility
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Alvaro Mielgo-Gómez
Delft University of Technology
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Erik de Hulster
Delft University of Technology
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Hans De Bruijn
DSM Biotechnology Center
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Henk Noorman
DSM Biotechnology Center
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Abstract

A novel fermentation process was developed in which renewable electricity is indirectly used as a fermentation substrate, synergistically decreasing both the consumption of sugar as a first generation carbon source and emission of the greenhouse gas CO2. To achieve this, a glucose-based process is co-fed with formic acid, which can be generated by capturing CO2 from fermentation offgas followed by electrochemical reduction with renewable electricity. This ‘closed carbon loop’ concept is demonstrated by a case study in which co-feeding formic acid is shown to significantly increase the yield of biomass on glucose of the industrially relevant yeast species Yarrowia lipolytica. First, the optimal feed ratio of formic acid to glucose is established using chemostat cultivations. Subsequently, guided by a dynamic fermentation process model, a fed-batch protocol is developed and demonstrated on laboratory scale. Finally, the developed fed-batch process is proven to be scalable to pilot scale. An extension of this proven concept to also recycle the O2 that is co-generated with the formic acid to the fermentation process for intensification purposes, and a potential further application of the concept to anaerobic fermentations are discussed.
16 Nov 2021Submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering
26 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
26 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
20 Dec 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
24 Feb 20221st Revision Received
25 Feb 2022Submission Checks Completed
25 Feb 2022Assigned to Editor
26 Feb 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Apr 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Accept