Evaluation of Cellulose as a Substrate for Hydrocarbon Fuel Production by <i>Ascocoryne sarcoides</i> (NRRL 50072)

Abstract

The fungal endophyte, Ascocoryne sarcoides, produced aviation, gasoline and diesel-relevant hydrocarbons when grown on multiple substrates including cellulose as the sole carbon source. Substrate, growth stage, culturing pH, temperature and medium composition were statistically significant factors for the type and quantity of hydrocarbons produced. Gasoline range (C 5 -C 12 ), aviation range (C 8 -C 16 ) and diesel range (C 9 -C 36 ) organics were detected in all cultured media. Numerous non-oxygenated hydrocarbons were produced such as isopentane, 3,3-dimethyl hexane and d-limonene during exponential growth phase. Growth on cellulose at 23˚C and pH 5.8 produced the highest overall yield of fuel range organics (105 mg * g·biomass −1 ). A change in metabolism was seen in late stationary phase from catabolism of cellulose to potential oxidation of hydrocarbons resulting in the production of more oxygenated compounds with longer carbon chain length and fewer fuel-related compounds. The results outline rational strategies for controlling the composition of the fuel-like compounds by changing culturing parameters.

The use of endophytic fungi for the conversion of agricultural wastes to hydrocarbons

“…The organisms produced a series of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives on oatmeal-based agar under microaerophilic conditions as analyzed by SPME-GC/MS. However, various straight chained (free form) compounds have also been reported from this fungus including such compounds as heptane, octane, 2-pentene, dodecane [8,13]. It turns out that this was the first clue that an endophytic fungus had the metabolic capacity to produce compounds with the structural potential of being converted into the main ingredients of the Class 1 alkanes that are found in all diesel fuels and the VOCs were collectively termed mycodiesel.…”

“…Thus, since the production of hydrocarbons by fungi is a relatively new discovery, the methods for analyzing these compounds have been borrowed from other applications. Likewise, NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) techniques have been adapted to monitor hydrocarbon production by fungal cultures [8]. However, quantification of the VOCs is extremely important especially for reasons relating to the potential commercialization of the products.…”

“…Most strikingly in the VOC mixture was a series of the acetic acid esters of straight-chained compounds including those of hexyl, heptyl, octyl, sec-octyl and decyl alcohols [8,11,13]. Also found in the culture head space of this fungus are a number of cycloalkanes including 1-methyl cyclohexene, cyclodecane and cyclodecene and these cycloalkanes are representative of the Class 2 hydrocarbons as discussed above as well as some branched chained hydrocarbons such as hexane, 3-methyl, 1,4-hexadiene, 3-ethyl, hexane, 3,3-dimethyl, nonane, 4,5-dimethyl, and undecane, 3-methyl [8,13]. However, various straight chained (free form) compounds have also been reported from this fungus including such compounds as heptane, octane, 2-pentene, dodecane [8,13].…”

Hydrocarbons, the advanced biofuels produced by different organisms, the evidence that alkanes in petroleum can be renewable

“…For example, Ascocoryne sarcoides yielded a wide range of alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons (including branched hydrocarbons, benzene derivatives, and cycloalkanes). When A. sarcoides was cultivated on a cellulose medium, it could produce a level of 105 mg of hydrocarbon-like per gram of biomass (Mallette et al 2014;Strobel 2014). Other endophytic fungi that can produce h y d r o c a r bo n -l i k e i n c l u d e G li o c l ad i u m ro se u m , Nodulisporium sp.…”

The Production of 1,8-Cineole, a Potential Biofuel, from an Endophytic Strain of <i>Annulohypoxylon</i> sp. FPYF3050 When Grown on Agricultural Residues

“…The first was common laboratory medium including potato dextrose agar (PDA), Czapek's agar (CA) [34], oatmeal agar (OA) [35] and malt extract agar (MEA) [36]. The second was synthetic medium described by Mallette [37] including cellulose medium (CM), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and glucose medium (GM) as carbon sources. The third type was agriculture and forestry residue medium including poplar sawdust, pine sawdust, corn straw, rice straw and wheat straw.…”