METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS PRODUCTION OF LIPIDS AND AROMATICS FROM CELLULOSE FEEDSTOCKS
A system and method are provided which utilize microbes to convert biomass feedstock into a fuel. In one aspect, a method of producing lipids includes receiving a feedstock including biomass, exposing the feedstock to microbes which are capable of converting the feedstock into lipids, and extracting produced lipids.
1 - 30 . (canceled)
31 . A method for producing lipids comprising:
(a) receiving a feedstock including biological matter;
(b) inoculating the feedstock with microbes selected from the group consisting of bacterial species, fungal species or a combination thereof, wherein the microbes convert cellulose, hemicellulose or glycerol into lipids upon fermentation with the feedstock;
(c) fermenting the inoculated feedstock, thereby producing lipids.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the microbes comprise Trichoderma reesi, Acinetobacter sp., or members of the Actinomyces and Streptomyces genera.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the feedstock comprises cellulose, hemicellulose or a combination thereof.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the feedstock comprises sawdust, wood chips, algae, or municipal solid waste.
35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the feedstock is fortified with glycerol.
36 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising pretreating the feedstock with at least one of mechanical pretreatment, thermal-chemical pretreatment, sterilization, ultraviolet irradiation, pasteurization, filtration and separation prior to inoculating the feedstock.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the pretreatment makes the feedstock more amenable to microbial digestion.
38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the wherein the pretreatment increases the ratio of surface area to volume of the feedstock.
39 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the mechanical pretreatment comprises chopping, shredding, grinding or a combination thereof.
40 . The method of claim 36 , wherein pretreating comprises separating the feedstock into a liquid phase and a solid phase.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the liquid phase and the solid phase are fermented separately in separate vessels.
42 . The method of claim 31 , wherein fermenting comprises agitation, aeration or oxygenation.
43 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the lipids comprise triacylglycerides.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the triacylglycerides comprise linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid or a combination thereof.
45 . The method of claim 31 , wherein fermentation comprises reproduction of the microbes and the method further comprises harvesting a cellular biomass comprising the reproduced microbes.
46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein fermentation comprises reproduction of the microbes and the method further comprises harvesting a cellular biomass comprising the reproduced microbes and recovering the lipids produced by the microbes from the cellular biomass.
47 . The cellular biomass produced according the method of claim 45 .
48 . The lipids produced according the method of claim 14 .
49 . The lipids of claim 48 , wherein the lipids comprise triacylglycerides.
50 . The lipids of claim 49 , wherein the triacylglycerides comprise linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid or a combination thereof.