Abstract
During our search for ethanol-producing basidiomycete fungi for a wide range of substrates, we isolated Phlebia acerina, which is a white rot basidiomycete fungus. It favorably converted starch into ethanol with approximately 70% yield. Although the yield decreased as the starch concentration increased, growth and fermentation were observed even at 200 g/L of starch. P. acerina produced ethanol from glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, cellobiose, and maltose with 93%, 91%, 86%, 72%, 92%, and 68% yields, respectively. Additionally, P. acerina, which secreted xylanase and xylosidase, was capable of assimilating xylan and directly converting it to ethanol with a yield of 63%. Furthermore, P. acerina produced ethanol directly from acorns, which are plant fruits containing starch and tannins, with a yield of 70%. Tannin delayed mycelia growth, thus prolonging ethanol production; however, this did not particularly affect the yield. These results were similar to those of fermentation in a medium with the same amounts of starch and tannin as the target crop acorn, thus suggesting that P. acerina could successfully produce environmentally friendly ethanol from starch-containing lignocellulosic biomass, unlike previously reported ethanol-producing basidiomycete fungi.
Highlights
The Earth’s atmosphere contains traces of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, all of which absorb and re-emit infrared radiation
The theoretical ethanol yield was 0.51 g ethanol/g monosaccharide and 0.54 g ethanol/g disaccharide, whereas it was 0.57 g ethanol/g polysaccharide when xylan or starch was used as the only carbon source
The white rot basidiomycete fungus, Phlebia acerina SF23754, used in this study can assimilate a broad spectrum of carbon sources and ferment ethanol from xylan and starch
Summary
The Earth’s atmosphere contains traces of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, all of which absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. Increase in the atmospheric GHG concentration increases the surface temperature of the earth excessively. This is a major cause of global warming. Fossil fuels are common energy sources for daily consumption, but recently, efforts have been made worldwide to reduce GHGs to reduce the rate of global warming. The International Council on Clean Transportation has suggested that fossil fuels should be replaced with low-carbon alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biofuels
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