Fusarium species: their potential for transforming biomass to ethanol

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6037105· OSTI ID:6037105

Antonopoulos, A. A.

The purpose of this study was to review existing literature and present some considerations pertaining to the use of Fusarium in degrading and fermenting certain biomass constituents to ethanol. Energy stored in the carbon bonds of biomass can be extracted in a form usable as fuel by several fungal species. Members of the genus Fusarium (tuberculariaceous deuteromycetes) have demonstrated their ability to depolymerize macromolecular carbohydrates and lignin and to ferment monosaccharides to ethanol. Research has focused on decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectic substances and lignin by several formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum, as well as on ethyl alcohol production by fermenting hexoses and pentoses. In this context, the exceptional capabilities of Fusarium species have been emphasized by students of fungal biochemistry. Unlike yeasts and other fungi, Fusaria can ferment both pentoses and hexoses (yeast can ferment only hexoses), and are able to saccharify the cell wall and middle lamella constituents and ferment the released sugar units. Existing research data support well the idea of utilizing selected Fusarium strains to decompose and convert biomass to ethyl alcohol. Since ethanol blends and performs effectively with gasoline (as gasohol), its yield through the Fusarium fermentative action should be exploited. There are certain biological, technological, and economic limitations that constrain the application of biomass conversion to ethanol by Fusarium strains today on a large scale. These obstacles, however, could be overcome through additional research and development.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6037105
• Report Number(s): ANL/EES-TM-38
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090222 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOLYTIC ACTIVITY
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FUNGI
FUSARIUM
GLUCOSE
HEMICELLULOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIGNIN
LYSIS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PECTINS
PENTOSES
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RECOMMENDATIONS
REVIEWS
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS