The Biomass Conversion and Bioprocess Technology (BCBT) research group recently presented valuable insights at the 14th European Symposium on Biochemical Engineering Sciences (ESBES 2024), held in Copenhagen from October 21 to 23. This event provided an excellent opportunity for the team to share their latest research and connect with colleagues from around the world.
Research Insights
On Monday, October 21, Prof. Solange Mussatto presented a study on a bacterial co-culture strategy designed to address the toxicity of lignocellulosic hydrolysates in fermentation processes. Although these hydrolysates are rich in fermentable sugars, they also contain compounds that can hinder microbial activity. Implementing a co-culture system leverages the distinct metabolic pathways of different bacteria to reduce toxicity, thereby accelerating fermentation without the need for costly detoxification processes.
Also on Monday, Sarah de Souza Queiroz presented her work “Enhancing xylose utilization in bioprocessing: Insights from XUT1 gene functional characterization from Candida tropicalis”. The findings demonstrated that C. tropicalis could be an effective model for efficiently converting pentoses, which are common in lignocellulosic materials, potentially enhancing fermentation applications in biomass conversion.
Bhukrit (Turbo) Ruengsrichaiya’s poster presentation explored lignolytic bacteria to valorize lignin, an often underutilized by-product of lignocellulosic processing. By investigating the lignin degradation capabilities of strains such as Oceanimonas doudoroffii, Pseudomonas alloputida, and Cupriavidus necator, the study demonstrated that these bacteria can utilize lignin-derived compounds as a sole carbon source.
Lara Campos presented a poster titled “Characterization and valorization of cork by-products for sustainable applications”. Her research focused on cork by-products from Portugal's large cork industry, which generates a range of underutilized by-products, including cork powder (CP), black condensate (BC), and cork-boiling wastewaters (CBW). The study highlighted how valorizing these by-products can reduce pollution and create new resource streams, aligning with circular economy principles.
Behind the Scenes
As a member of the ESBES 2024 Organizing Committee, Prof. Solange Mussatto reflected on her role in organizing the event:
“As part of the organizing committee, I am proud of what we’ve achieved with ESBES 2024. I am grateful to all participants, presenters, and sponsors who contributed to making this symposium a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved”.
This symposium was a significant event for the BCBT group and an important platform for discussing the latest advancements and future directions in biochemical engineering.
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