Seminar of the Insitute of Microbiology

Anaerobic fungi and AF-derived enzymes for small scale biogas plants

Claudio Kalbermatten – PhD candidate - Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften

21.11.2024, 11:00 - Hybrid

  • Join online
  • or in presence: Seminarraum Biologie - Foyer (Technikerstraße 25, EG)

 

Abstract

Claudio

Small scale biogas plants are challenging to run profitably, but could play an important role in circular economy and local power production. Usually, lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is not a profitable substrate, as despite the low price, the residence time required for the digestion is too high. LCB is a highly recalcitrant and heterogeneous substrate, hindering the effective utilization of this highly important renewable resource.

Anaerobic fungi (AF) show great potential for small scale biogas plants due to their ability to efficiently break down LCB. Naturally occurring in the rumen of ruminants, they play a key role in the digestion of consumed plant biomass. AF interact with LCB both mechanically by breaking it apart using specialized structures and chemically by a plethora of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes). As such, they provide an opportunity to increase biogas yield either by pretreatment or bioaugmentation. However, there is no commercially available process or enzyme cocktail based on AF despite the well-known beneficial effects of these organisms on anaerobic digestion. My PhD is part of the ABH016 FUNGAS research project, financed by the Interreg VI program, which focuses on applying the AF in small-scale biogas systems. In this talk, I will introduce the project, and then give an overview of the scope of my thesis. I will both present preliminary results as well as give a plan of future research.

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