Sotenko, Maria V. (2010) Bicatalytic conversion of glycerol to value-added products. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a tandem bio- chemical transformation of a feedstock material to value-added products. The chosen example is microbial fermentation of glycerol with subsequent esterification of the intermediate 1,3-propanediol with fatty acids. The use of biphasic aqueous/organic medium for the bi-catalytic system is the key feature of this study. In the first part of this work, batch and continuous fermentations of glycerol by Clostridium Butyricum bacteria were optimized to increase productivity of 1,3-propanediol. In the second part, several catalysts were screened for mono- and biphasic transformation of 1,3- propanediol. It was discovered that enzymes are the most suitable catalysts for the tandem reactions of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol derivatives compared to chemical catalysts. Biphasic enzymatic esterification of 1,3-propanediol was further optimized using Rhizomucor miehei lipase. Finally, a segmented flow tubular reactor and hollow fiber membrane contactors were designed and tested as a concept tandem reactor. The hollow fiber reactor with Rhizomucor miehei lipase immobilized onto polypropylene membrane was found to be the most effective in the biphasic linoleic acid/aqueous esterification of 1,3-propanediol. In general, the demonstrated approach and the developed system can be easily utilized in the biorefinery processes to avoid extraction and purification of the intermediate products, thus reducing time, energy and emissions.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Glycerin, Fermentation
Date:	October 2010
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Engineering
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Lapkin, Alexei
Extent:	iv, 207 leaves : ill., charts
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/35606

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