The invention presents an integrated process that converts lignocellulosic biomass into high-value products such as bioplastics, bioethanol, biofuels, hydrogen, and lipids. The method combines diluted-acid mechanocatalysis, thermal hydrolysis, and direct microbial fermentation without purification steps. This approach efficiently depolymerizes cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, yielding 150–250 g of fermentable sugars per kilogram of biomass. The resulting hydrolysate is compatible with microbial growth, enabling streamlined conversion into valuable bioproducts. The process maximizes biomass utilization, reduces inhibitors and corrosion, and supports circular-economy applications using diverse waste sources like coffee grounds, wood residues, and shells.
The technology describes an integrated method for converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-value chemical products through three consecutive stages: diluted-acid mechanocatalysis, controlled hydrolysis, and microbial fermentation. In the first stage, biomass containing cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin is subjected to mechanocatalysis using mild acids such as oxalic, succinic, sulfuric, hydrochloric, or phosphoric acids at very low concentrations (0.01–2 mmol/g). This pretreatment depolymerizes the structural polymers of the biomass, reducing their molecular size and facilitating downstream processing.
The second stage consists of thermal hydrolysis , performed in a microwave reactor or autoclave, converting the fragmented polymers into monomeric sugars such as glucose, xylose, and mannose, as well as lignin-derived compounds. From 1 kg of biomass, approximately 150–250 g of fermentable carbohydrates are obtained. A key characteristic of the resulting hydrolysate is that it does not inhibit microbial growth, eliminating the need for purification steps.
In the third stage, the hydrolysate is directly fermented using selected microorganisms, including Paraburkholderia sacchari, Cupriavidus necator, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces. Each microorganism contributes to the production of specific outputs such as PHB/PHBV bioplastics, hydrogen, lactic acid, ethanol, or biofuels. The process offers significant advantages over prior art: higher lignin recovery, reduced corrosion, lower inhibitor formation, and cost savings by avoiding enzymatic hydrolysis and purification. The method is universal and applicable to multiple lignocellulosic wastes such as coffee grounds, gardening residues, or shells. The resulting products are biodegradable, biocompatible, and aligned with circular-economy principles
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