Antioxidants are a class of substances that suppress oxidation and protect the cell from damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidant compounds, such as carotenoids, have wide applications towards food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agricultural industry and the fast-growing demand for natural carotenoids is fostering a multi-billion-dollar market. Producing carotenoid from the waste stream of renewable lignocellulosic biomass by naturally occurring microbes offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to the chemically synthesized carotenoids. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using the underutilized biorefinery waste streams to produce high-value carotenoids such as β-carotene and astaxanthin. First, we prepared and characterized two liquid streams from dilute sulfuric acid and alkali pretreatment of corn stover. Cultivation conditions (temperature, N-source and dilution ratio) were then optimized for microbial growth and heterotrophic carotenoid production using Blakeslea trispora and Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous. Based on the experimental data, a preliminary cost analysis was conducted using Excel datasheet to understand the carotenoid production cost using the proposed technology. Tapping valuable products, i.e. carotenoids, from the biorefinery waste streams will not only create extra revenue for the biofuels industry but also help to mitigate the adverse environmental impact.

High value carotenoids from biorefinery waste streams

255th National Meeting (2018)

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