The Case of Defatted Rice Bran with Emphasis on Bioconversion Strategies
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fermentation Review Valorising Agro-industrial Wastes within the Circular Bioeconomy Concept: the Case of Defatted Rice Bran with Emphasis on Bioconversion Strategies Maria Alexandri *, José Pablo López-Gómez , Agata Olszewska-Widdrat and Joachim Venus * Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Department of Bioengineering, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany; [email protected] (J.P.L.-G.); [email protected] (A.O.-W.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (M.A.); [email protected] (J.V.) Received: 17 February 2020; Accepted: 20 April 2020; Published: 22 April 2020 Abstract: The numerous environmental problems caused by the extensive use of fossil resources have led to the formation of the circular bioeconomy concept. Renewable resources will constitute the cornerstone of this new, sustainable model, with biomass presenting a huge potential for the production of fuels and chemicals. In this context, waste and by-product streams from the food industry will be treated not as “wastes” but as resources. Rice production generates various by-product streams which currently are highly unexploited, leading to environmental problems especially in the countries that are the main producers. The main by-product streams include the straw, the husks, and the rice bran. Among these streams, rice bran finds applications in the food industry and cosmetics, mainly due to its high oil content. The high demand for rice bran oil generates huge amounts of defatted rice bran (DRB), the main by-product of the oil extraction process. The sustainable utilisation of this by-product has been a topic of research, either as a food additive or via its bioconversion into value-added products and chemicals. This review describes all the processes involved in the efficient bioconversion of DRB into biotechnological products. The detailed description of the production process, yields and productivities, as well as strains used for the production of bioethanol, lactic acid and biobutanol, among others, are discussed. Keywords: pretreatment; bioconversion; bio-based products; fermentation; sustainability; circular economy 1. Introduction The concept of the circular economy drives research into renewable resources, as an alternative to the finite fossil fuels and the negative environmental impact caused by their extensive utilization. Within this concept, renewables would be the key for a sustainable economic growth in respect to the environment and natural resources preservation [1]. Biomass constitutes a promising renewable resource, which—via the biorefinery concept—can be exploited to generate energy and chemicals. In a biorefinery, the conversion of biomass into bioenergy and bioproducts occurs while minimizing the waste generation and the emissions from their production [2]. The European Union has underlined the importance of the circular bioeconomy model with the launch of new campaigns and novel legislations to instigate its implementation [3]. More specifically, the Circular Economy Package (April 2018), recently approved by the European Parliament, has introduced amendments and directives regarding waste recycling as well as landfilling reduction. The amendment of the Landfilling Directive (1999/31/EC) dictates that landfilling should not be the standard measure of Fermentation 2020, 6, 42; doi:10.3390/fermentation6020042 www.mdpi.com/journal/fermentation Fermentation 2020, 6, 42 2 of 18 Fermentation 2020, 6, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 20 thatwaste could handling, be subjected and that to the physical, member stateschemical are requiredor biological to recycle transformations, or recover any should suitable be waste landfilled. by 2030. Thus,According member to the states same directivemust develop only wastes waste characterized management as “inertsystems waste”, in accordance i.e., with a negligiblewith Directive content 2018/851,in pollutants in order or compounds to establish that resource could be efficiency. subjected In to other physical, words, chemical organic or biologicalwastes are transformations, considered a potentialshould be resource, landfilled. and Thus,hence member should be states used must instead develop of disposed. waste management systems in accordance withThe Directive new legislations 2018/851, intowards order toa circular establish economy resource have efficiency. pushed In research other words, to new organic limits. wastes It is not are enoughconsidered anymore a potential to find resource, renewable and hence alternatives should befor used the instead generation of disposed. of energy and chemicals; additionally,The new processes legislations should towards completely a circular exhaus economyt the havesubstrates pushed while research generating to new the limits. minimum It is not amountenough of anymore wastes. to As find a result, renewable new alternatives investigations for theinto generation waste materials of energy which and chemicals;were not considered additionally, asprocesses being of shouldhigh interest completely have exhauststarted to the increase substrates in number. while generating It is expected the minimum that the number amount of of works wastes. intoAs athe result, valorisation new investigations of such residues into waste will materials continue which to grow were as not we considered transition as from being fossil of high fuels interest to renewables.have started to increase in number. It is expected that the number of works into the valorisation of such residues will continue to grow as we transition from fossil fuels to renewables. 1.1. Rice Production and Defatted Rice Bran (DRB). A New Framework Emerges in the Circular Bio-economy. Rice Production and Defatted Rice Bran (DRB). A New Framework Emerges in the Circular Bio-Economy Rice (Oryza sativa L.) constitutes one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, being a part of the Ricediet (ofOryza a quarter sativa L.)of the constitutes world’s onepopulation of the most [4]. important Global rice cereal production crops worldwide, was estimated being at a part509.7 of millionthe diet tonnes of a quarter in 2018, of thewith world’s an expected population growth [4]. of Global 52.6 ricemillion production tonnes wasby 2027 estimated [5]. Asian at 509.7 countries million aretonnes the main in 2018, rice withproducers, an expected with a growth production of 52.6 of million459.5 million tonnes tonnes by 2027 in 2018 [5]. Asian [5]. China countries is the aremost the importantmain rice producers,contributor with with a productionan estimated of 459.5production million tonnesof 140.8 in million 2018 [5]. tonnes China isfor the the most same important year, followedcontributor by India with an(113.3 estimated million production tonnes), Indonesia of 140.8 million (47.9 million tonnes tonnes) for the sameand Thailand year, followed (23.3 million by India tonnes).(113.3 million tonnes), Indonesia (47.9 million tonnes) and Thailand (23.3 million tonnes). TheThe white white rice rice production production process process comprises comprises step stepss of of harvesting, harvesting, cleaning, cleaning, hulling, hulling, whitening, whitening, polishingpolishing and and grading grading [4]. [4]. These These steps steps generate generate va variousrious waste waste streams streams with with the the main main ones ones being being the the straw,straw, the the husks, husks, and and the the rice rice bran bran [6]. [6]. Rice Rice straw straw is is the the stalk stalk of of the the plant plant and and it it is is generated generated upon upon harvesting.harvesting. The The husk husk is is the the outer outer la layeryer of of the the grain grain and and it itis is removed removed during during the the milling milling process. process. Rice Rice branbran is is a aby-product by-product of of rice rice milling, milling, derived derived from from th thee outer outer layer layer of of brown brown rice rice kernel. kernel. In In general, general, for for everyevery kilogram kilogram of of milled milled rice, rice, 0.4–1.4 0.4–1.4 kg kg of of rice rice stra straww (depending (depending on on the the variety), variety), 0.28 0.28 kg kg of of rice rice husk husk andand 0.05–0.1 0.05–0.1 kg kg of of rice rice bran bran are are generated generated (Figure (Figure 1)1)[ [7].7]. Figure 1. Production of rice and its by-products. Defatted rice bran (DRB) is the residue after the oil Figure 1. Production of rice and its by-products. Defatted rice bran (DRB) is the residue after the oil extraction from the rice bran accounting for around 78%–85% (w/w) of the bran. extraction from the rice bran accounting for around 78%–85% (w/w) of the bran. According to FAOSTAT, greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the burning of rice residues According to FAOSTAT, greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the burning of rice residues accounted for almost 54.634 megatonnes in CO2 eq. in 2017 [8]. Due to environmental and economic accounted for almost 54.634 megatonnes in CO2 eq. in 2017 [8]. Due to environmental and economic concerns, new studies have focused on the sustainable utilization of the rice production process concerns, new studies have focused on the sustainable utilization of the rice production process by-products within a biorefinery concept [9–11]. Specifically, owing to its rich composition in proteins, by-products within a biorefinery concept [9–11]. Specifically, owing to its rich composition in fibres, vitamins, antioxidants and oil [4], rice bran can find applications as animal feed and in the food and proteins, fibres, vitamins, antioxidants and oil [4], rice bran can find applications as animal feed and pharmaceutical industries [12–14]. Amongst its components, rice bran oil accounts for approximately in the food and pharmaceutical industries [12–14]. Amongst its components, rice bran oil accounts 15%–22% w/w of rice bran and its high nutritional value has been highlighted in several studies due to for approximately 15%–22% w/w of rice bran and its high nutritional value has been highlighted in its elevated content in sterols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and γ-oryzanol [4,13].