Consolidated processing is one of the most emerging processes which combine enzyme production, hydrolysis, and fermentation into a single reactor system.
Some of the advantages associated with CBP include:
- Reduction in total capital cost of the process due to:
- Absence of separate equipment for the fermentation and saccharification.
- Enzyme production utilities are totally eliminated.
- Reduction in risk of contamination due to production of bio alcohol /organic acids.
- Simplification of the process operation
It is claimed that lactic acid production from lignocellulosic biomass wherein the novel thermophilic strain of Paenibacillus IIPSP3 not only attacks the glucan and xylan, the principal constituents of biomass, and breaks them of monomeric sugars but is also capable of fermenting these sugars to L-Lactic Acid under micro-aerobic conditions. The cellulolytic activity of Paenibacillus macerans IIPSP3 (MTCC 5569) has been proven by fermentation of pure cellulosic substrates such as sodium salt of carboxy methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel PH 101, and cellobiose to L-Lactic Acid. It is further appreciated that the process has less chances of contamination, as the fermentation is carried out at higher temperatures and is economically attractive, as preferably no or minimal enzyme loadings are required externally.
