Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.7
3.3
Journals
Fermentation
Special Issues
The Future of Fermentation Technology in the Biorefining Process: 3rd...
share announcement

The Future of Fermentation Technology in the Biorefining Process: 3rd Edition

A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 5168

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bartłomiej Zieniuk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 159C Nowoursynowska Str., 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: enzyme biosynthesis; enzymatic synthesis of compounds with antioxidant activity; lipases; Yarrowia lipolytica; chemistry of natural compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition from a fossil-based economy to a circular bioeconomy requires the development of a high industrial symbiotic readiness level, continuous scientific innovations, and radical changes in the infrastructure of current industries. Biorefineries can play a crucial role in establishing this new type of economy, increasing the efficiencies of raw materials with the circular use of biomass and promoting the production of biochemicals and high-added-value compounds from industrial by-products and waste streams.

The aim of this Special Issue is to showcase the latest advancements in fermentation technology and bioprocessing for upgrading key industrial sectors into modern biorefineries, raising the awareness of all stakeholders on opportunities for utilizing waste and by-product streams from major industrial activities for the production of platform chemicals and biopolymers. Special attention will be given to the following research topics: (i) fermentation as the core bioprocess in biorefinery development; (ii) alternative raw materials as potential feedstocks for industrial biotechnology applications; (iii) innovative pretreatment (fractionation of raw materials) and advanced downstream processing (product separation and recovery) technologies coupled with efficient and innovative fermentation processes; (iv) pilot-scale, demo-scale, and commercial-scale case studies on biorefineries using fermentation as the main process; and (v) sustainability assessment tools to measure the socio-economic and environmental performance of these innovative facilities.

Dr. Bartłomiej Zieniuk
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fermentation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioprocessing
  • biorefinery
  • alternative raw materials
  • utilization of industrial side streams
  • sustainability assessment

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2095 KB  
Article
Combination Strategy of Bioenzymes and Sophorolipid Pretreatments Enhance Volatile Fatty Acid Production Based on Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Rubberwood Hydrolysates
by Fen Yin, Wenxuan Bie, Xiaojun Ma, Jianing Li, Yingying Zheng and Dongna Li
Fermentation 2025, 11(8), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11080486 - 21 Aug 2025
Viewed by 581
Abstract
In this study, we developed a combination strategy of bioenzymes and sophorolipid (SL) co-pretreatment to enhance volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in co-fermentation of waste activated sludge (WAS) and rubberwood hydrolysates (RWHs). Among all the pretreatments, SL and laccase co-pretreatment markedly increased soluble bioavailable [...] Read more.
In this study, we developed a combination strategy of bioenzymes and sophorolipid (SL) co-pretreatment to enhance volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in co-fermentation of waste activated sludge (WAS) and rubberwood hydrolysates (RWHs). Among all the pretreatments, SL and laccase co-pretreatment markedly increased soluble bioavailable substrates (carbohydrates and proteins) by inducing EPS catabolism and WAS disintegration, and obtained the highest VFAs yield of 7049.43 mg/L. The proportion of VFA composition can be controlled by modifying the types and amounts of added bioenzymes. Under SL and laccase co-pretreatment conditions, RWHs were more efficiently converted into VFAs due to the higher activity of WAS, resulting in lower cellulose (3.41%) and lignin (0.66%) content in the fermentation broth. Compared with other pretreatments, SL and laccase co-pretreatment enhanced the enrichment of the functional microorganisms, including anaerobic fermentation bacteria (Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria) and reducing bacteria (Acinerobacter and Ahniella). Therefore, the combination pretreatments might be a promising solution for strengthening VFA accumulation in the WAS and RWH co-fermentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Fermentation Technology in the Biorefining Process: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 7385 KB  
Article
Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste and Granular Inoculum: Study on Temperature Effect and Substrate-to-Inoculum Ratio on Biogas Production
by Madalina Ivanovici, Gabriela-Alina Dumitrel, Vasile Daniel Gherman, Teodor Todinca, Ana-Maria Pana and Valentin Laurentiu Ordodi
Fermentation 2025, 11(6), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11060348 - 15 Jun 2025
Viewed by 2178
Abstract
The development of food waste anaerobic digestion (AD) is a contemporary research topic addressed in the scientific community to meet the requirements of food waste valorization and proper substrate configuration for an efficient AD process. In this study, multiple AD experiments were performed [...] Read more.
The development of food waste anaerobic digestion (AD) is a contemporary research topic addressed in the scientific community to meet the requirements of food waste valorization and proper substrate configuration for an efficient AD process. In this study, multiple AD experiments were performed on food waste together with industrial inoculum using laboratory-scale bioreactors. Food waste consisted mainly of fruits and vegetables (80.9%) and boiled rice (19.1%). The effect of operating temperature (33 °C, 37 °C, 41 °C, 45 °C) and the ratio between food waste mixture and inoculum-FIR (1:1, 3:2 and 2:1, w/w) on the production and composition of biogas, and the conversion yield for CH4 and organic carbon, were investigated. The best results were obtained at an FIR of 2:1 and a temperature of 37 °C, with a total biogas production of 468.59 NL h−1 kg−1VSadded (51% v/v CH4 conc.) and a conversion yield of 36.42% for CH4. A modified Gompertz model was applied on the accumulated CH4 and biogas to evaluate the process performance. The model parameters were investigated in conjunction with the physico-chemical characteristics of the substrate, inoculum taxonomic profile, pH measurements, and TG-DTA analysis. The conducted analyses emphasized the susceptibility of the selected substrate towards easy degradation and improved biotransformation reactions when temperature and FIR were increased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Fermentation Technology in the Biorefining Process: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 3126 KB  
Review
Integrated Pretreatment and Microbial Matching for PHA Production from Lignocellulosic Agro-Forestry Residues
by Dongna Li, Shanshan Liu, Qiang Wang, Xiaojun Ma and Jianing Li
Fermentation 2025, 11(10), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11100563 - 29 Sep 2025
Viewed by 490
Abstract
Lignocellulosic agro-forestry residues (LARs), such as rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and wood wastes, are abundant and low-cost feedstocks for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. However, their complex cellulose–hemicellulose–lignin matrix requires integrated valorization strategies. This review presents a dual-framework approach: “pretreatment–co-substrate compatibility” and “pretreatment–microbial platform matching”, [...] Read more.
Lignocellulosic agro-forestry residues (LARs), such as rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and wood wastes, are abundant and low-cost feedstocks for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. However, their complex cellulose–hemicellulose–lignin matrix requires integrated valorization strategies. This review presents a dual-framework approach: “pretreatment–co-substrate compatibility” and “pretreatment–microbial platform matching”, to align advanced pretreatment methods (including deacetylation–microwave integration, deep eutectic solvents, and non-sterilized lignin recovery) with engineered or extremophilic microbial hosts. A “metabolic interaction” perspective on co-substrate fermentation, encompassing dynamic carbon flux allocation, synthetic consortia cooperation, and one-pot process coupling, is used to elevate PHA titers and tailor copolymer composition. In addition, we synthesize comprehensive kinetic analyses from the literature that elucidate microbial growth, substrate consumption, and dynamic carbon flux allocation under feast–famine conditions, thereby informing process optimization and scalability. Microbial platforms are reclassified as broad-substrate, process-compatible, or product-customized categories to emphasize adaptive evolution, CRISPR-guided precision design, and consortia engineering. Finally, next-generation techno-economic analyses, embracing multi-product integration, regional adaptation, and carbon-efficiency metrics, are surveyed to chart viable paths for scaling LAR-to-PHA into circular bioeconomy manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Fermentation Technology in the Biorefining Process: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1361 KB  
Review
Sugarcane Bagasse: A Sustainable Feedstock for Biorefinery Portfolios in South Africa
by Lindile Nhleko and Patrick T. Sekoai
Fermentation 2025, 11(9), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11090489 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1335
Abstract
Rising global populations, infrastructural development, and rapid urbanization have heightened the reliance on a linear economy, resulting in severe environmental and human impacts. This crisis has triggered an urgent quest for sustainable and ecologically benign innovations, as outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable [...] Read more.
Rising global populations, infrastructural development, and rapid urbanization have heightened the reliance on a linear economy, resulting in severe environmental and human impacts. This crisis has triggered an urgent quest for sustainable and ecologically benign innovations, as outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This review investigates the potential of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a promising feedstock for advancing circular bioeconomy initiatives in South Africa. It shows how this copious bioresource can be utilized to enhance the country’s biobased value chains by producing bio-commodities, such as biofuels and platform chemicals. The review also identifies the driving forces behind the circular bioeconomy model within the South African sugarcane industry. To achieve the circular bioeconomy, it outlines essential technological prerequisites, including critical pretreatment strategies and emerging bio-innovations necessary for the effective valorization of SCB. Furthermore, it showcases the R&D and commercial strides that have been achieved in South Africa. Finally, the study covers techno-economic studies that corroborate the economic viability of this domain. In conclusion, harnessing SCB not only presents a viable biorefinery pathway towards sustainable economic growth but also contributes to environmental preservation and social well-being, aligning with global sustainability imperatives. The successful integration of these innovative approaches could play a pivotal role in transforming the South African sugarcane industry into a continental leader in circular bioeconomy innovations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Fermentation Technology in the Biorefining Process: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop