An insight - A statistical investigation of consolidated bioprocessing of Allium ascalonicum leaves to ethanol using Hangateiclostridium thermocellum KSMK1203 and synthetic consortium

Bioethanol can be produced by cellulolytic and ethanogenic bacterial species could efficiently degrade
lignocelluloses and have potential for biofuels production through consolidated bioprocessing (CBP). In
this study, on-site cellulase production followed by saccharification and fermentation of pre-treated
Allium ascalonicum leaves to bioethanol in a single reactor using Hangateiclostridium thermocellum
KSMK1203 and consortium of Cellulomonas fimi MTCC 24 and Zymomonas mobilis MTCC 92.
A. ascalonicum leaf pre-treatment with different alkalis and different pre-treatment conditions such as
alkali dosage and time for proficient removal of hemicellulose and cellulose recovery was optimized
using RSM method with the maximum hemicellulose removal of 85.25%. The essential medium components
were screened through PBD and further optimized using RSM method for H. thermocellum
KSMK1203 and the consortium for maximized bioethanol yield. Hence, this study proposed that wildtype
H. thermocellum KSMK1203 strain and consortium could be used for cellulase secretion and
simultaneous bioethanol conversion.