Total carbohydrate consumption through co-fermentation of agro-industrial waste: use of wild-type bacterial isolates specialized in the conversion of C-5 sugars to high levels of lactic acid with concomitant metabolization of toxic compounds

Value-added bioproducts are linked to the expansion of lignocellulosic biorefineries based on agro-industrial waste and local economic growth. Thus, the aim of this study was to pretreat rice hull (RH), a highly recalcitrant biomass, with saturated steam and convert it to lactic acid (LA). Strategically, the individual fractions and the blend of detoxified liquor and water-insoluble solids were used as substrate in the simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) by wild-type bacteria. The microbial consortium between Pediococcus acidilactici and Acetobacter cerevisiae enabled the metabolization of all the xylose contained in the liquor, as well as the consumption of all minor sugars when using the blend. Assays resulted in the production of 106.2 g L^− 1 of LA. Furthermore, A. cerevisiae promoted complete degradation of 5-HMF/furfural in a short period of time. This study demonstrates the benefits provided by processes integration (SSCF/blend) employing high solids load (22% w/v), representing an innovative and economically interesting approach.