Designing mixed-culture bioprocesses by means of bioenergetics models

Abstract

Mixed culture fermentations (MCFs) are recognised as an inexpensive means to produce high-added-valueproducts from low-grade biomass. However, developing a new bioprocess based on this technology is a challenging task. Although mixed cultures are advantageous when treating complex substrates in a continuous operation, they also pose a fundamental challenge: we are not able to fully understand the mechanisms that control these populations. In consequence, it is difficult to control the operation and to foresee the outcome of the process. In this context, BIOCHEM project (Figure 1) aims at designing a methodology for the development of a novel process based on MCFs focusing on two aspects: reaching a high productivity and achieving a high selectivity of the desired product(s)