A Hybrid Strategy for the Efficient Biosynthesis of Fufuryl Alcohol from Corncob in Formic Acid–Water.

The implementation of efficient and sustainable biorefineries to substitute the petroleum-based economy is dependent on coupling the manufacturing of high-value biobased chemicals. Furfuryl alcohol (FFA) is a versatile and valuable intermediate for the manufacturing of vitamin C, fruit acids, lysine, plasticizers, dispersing agents, lubricants, resins, additives and biofuels. This work provided a cascade catalysis of biomass to FFA via a hybrid approach. Co-catalysis of corncob (75.0 g/L) with formic acid (1.0 wt%) and solid acid Sn-MMT (2.0 wt%) could produce 77.8 mM furfural at 180 ℃ for 10 min under microwave (600 W), and then the formed furfural was biologically transformed into FFA with recombinant E. coli CF harboring formate dehydrogenase and aldehyde reductase in the furfural liquor containing formate as cosubstrate at pH 6.5 and 35 ℃. This established hybrid strategy could efficiently valorize corncob into FFA in the presence of formate, with the productivity of 0.296 g FFA/(g xylan in corncob). Consequently, one-pot cascade reaction that combines non-enzymatic and biocatalytic conversion provides a sustainable way to effectively valorize the biomass into high-value chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]