Challenges and enhancement technologies of medium chain carboxylates production in open culture anaerobic fermentation.

[Display omitted] • Metabolic pathways and corresponding functional microbes are presented. • Main challenges for restricting MCCs are introduced. • Application and suitable operational conditions for enhancing MCCs are summarized. • Future research perspective to expand MCCs production scale are discussed. The fast increase in fossil-based energy consumption has induced continuously rising energy prices and the urgent need for alternative chemicals. Producing medium-chain carboxylates (MCCs) through anaerobic fermentation from organic wastes provides an economical and sustainable strategy to generate renewable chemicals. To better improve MCCs production from open-culture fermentation, a comprehensive analysis of understanding MCCs produce, metabolism, functional microbes, restriction factors and corresponding resolve methods is currently needed. To this end, the formation pathways and functional microbes of MCCs were comprehensively introduced. Then, the restrictive factors and competitive reactions for MCCs production were summarized, followed by the corresponding resolve strategies with appropriate application conditions. The potential research need and future perspective were last suggested according to this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]