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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283179
Title: Utilization of agricultural biomass in the production of the biopolymer schizophyllan

Author
item Sutivisedsak, Nongnuch
item Leathers, Timothy
item Nunnally, Melinda
item Price, Neil
item Biresaw, Girma

Submitted to: Bioresource Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/27/2012
Publication Date: 10/25/2012
Citation: Sutivisedsak, N., Leathers, T.D., Nunnally, M.S., Price, N.P., Biresaw, G. 2013. Utilization of agricultural biomass in the production of the biopolymer schizophyllan. Journal of Indusrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 40(1):105-112. DOI: 10.1007/s10295-012-1208-8.

Interpretive Summary: We demonstrate here for the first time the efficient utilization of agricultural biomass substrates, particularly distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS), for production of the valuable biopolymer, schizophyllan. Utilization of biomass substrates could provide a value-added product from agricultural residues such as DDGS, in support of the integrated biorefinery concept. We discovered production conditions required for conversion of DDGS to schizophyllan and conducted chemical, structural, and physical characterizations of the biopolymer. This work provides a potential new value-added bioproduct for integrated biorefineries of the future.

Technical Abstract: Schizophyllan is a homoglucan produced by the fungus Schizophyllum commune, with a ß-1,3-linked backbone and ß-1,6-linked side chains of single glucose units at every other residue. Schizophyllan is commercially produced for pharmaceutical and cosmetics uses. However, the unique physical properties of schizophyllan suggest that it may have biomaterials applications. Schizophyllan is conventionally produced by submerged culture fermentation using glucose as a carbon source. We demonstrate here for the first time the efficient utilization of agricultural biomass substrates, particularly distillers’ dried grains with solubles, for schizophyllan production. Sugar composition analysis, NMR, and permethylation linkage analysis confirmed that the recovered product was schizophyllan. Schizophyllan produced from agricultural residues was of a high molecular weight and exhibited solution viscosity properties similar to those of commercially produced material. Utilization of biomass substrates could reduce the cost of schizophyllan production and provide a new value-added bioproduct for integrated biorefineries of the future.