A bacterial cellulose (BC) producing bacterial species was isolated from spontaneous wine fermentations and identified as Acetobacter pasteurianus and assigned the strain designation ABBA. The strain had the ability to synthesize BC in orange juice, achieving a yield of 5.0 g/L. Further production optimization was studied using a non-fortified natural substrate composed of substandard raisin extracts, orange juice, and green tea extract. The Response Surface Methodology for the production design and optimization was applied, resulting in a significantly higher yield of up to 15.5 g/L. The porosity, crystallinity, and antioxidant activity of the produced BC films were affected by both the BC drying method and the substrate used. In the FT-IR spectra, characteristic peaks corresponding to citric acid, gallic acid, ascorbic acid and thiamine were observed, indicating their adsorption onto the BC matrix and explaining the increased antioxidant activity. A. pasteurianus ABBA is a promising new strain that can be used in the production of BC from agrifood sidestreams (substandard raisins; discarded oranges), contributing to their utilization and the production of value-added materials within a circular-economy framework.

Composite biocatalysts (CB) consisting of amylases and Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized separately on bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) are used for the process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of starch (5%, w/v) for bioethanol production. Parameters such as: i) addition of phosphates and/or divalent metal‐ions salts during the co‐immobilization process of the amylases, ii) required co‐immobilization time, iii) fermentation temperature and initial pH of starch, and iv) CB as single or double freeze‐dried are studied. The utilization of double freeze‐dried CB exhibits fermentation efficiency 89.9% and ethanol yield 0.51 g ethanol g −1 starch while the single freeze‐dried CB 81.1% and 0.46 g ethanol g −1 starch, respectively. In the case of double freeze‐dried CB, the fermentation efficiency decreases by only 27.1% in two‐recycling batches, while in the single freeze‐dried one decreases by 51.3%. The application of double freeze‐dried CB can be used for: i) the eco‐friendly biosynthesis of value‐added bioproducts; ii) the promising option for fuel‐grade bioethanol through starchy wastes or foodstuff starchy residues treatment, and iii) the implementation of industrialization. Finally, to simulate an industrial process of one‐step SSF of starch by applying a CB model, a technoeconomic analysis is evaluated, where using BNCs makes the bioprocess cost‐effective and environmentally favorable, simultaneously.

The production of the sugars fructose and lactulose from lactose using the enzymes β-galactosidase and glucose isomerase immobilized on bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes has been investigated. Lactose is hydrolyzed by β-galactosidase at 30 °C to glucose and galactose at a high conversion rate, while at the same temperature, glucose isomerase is not effective in converting the produced glucose to fructose. The rate of the isomerization reaction of glucose to fructose at 70 °C has been studied. Two types of enzyme immobilization were investigated: immobilization in one stage and immobilization in two stages. The results showed that BC membrane increased three-fold the yield and the reaction rate of fructose and lactulose production from lactose. The noteworthy enhancement of BC membranes' impact on the isomerization reaction by immobilized enzymes grants permission for a novel research avenue within the context of white biotechnology development. Additionally, this effect amplifies the role of BC in sustainability and the circular economy.

Open Social Innovation (OSI) is a new fast-growing discipline of Open Innovation that is mainly focused on tackling societal matters and challenges under the auspices of co-creation, collaboration, and co-working. This work presents a research study that analyses the state and potential of applying OSI at the European level by investigating the views of various European stakeholders coming from several countries and regions. As the contributors come from various and different organizations, regions and countries, questions arose, as to how all these participants could successfully co-create and perform in an OSI environment. The investigated methodology used a specially designed questionnaire to analyze and compare stakeholders’ performance and potential for applying OSI in their region. Evaluating the answers provides several insights into the participants’ nature, how their characteristics can be an asset or a deterrent for OSI implementation, and the similar issues and problems they faced. Suggestions and recommendations for the further adoption and promotion of OSI are discussed and concluded.

We report the production of BC gels by Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans in synthetic (Hestrin and Schramm; HS) and natural media (raisin finishing side-stream extracts; RFSE), and their in situ modification by natural zeolite (Zt) and activated carbon (AC) nanostructures (NSs) carrying thyme oil (Th). The NS content for optimum BC yield was 0.64 g/L for both Zt-Th (2.56 and 1.47 g BC/L in HS and RFSE, respectively), and AC-Th (1.78 and 0.96 g BC/L in HS and RFSE, respectively). FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of NS and Th in the modified BCs, which, compared to the control, had reduced specific surface area (from 5.7 to 0.2–0.8 m2/g), average pore diameter (from 264 to 165–203 Å), cumulative pore volume (from 0.084 to 0.003–0.01 cm3/g), crystallinity index (CI) (from 72 to 60–70%), and crystallite size (from 78 to 72–76%). These values (except CI and CS), slightly increased after the use of the BC films as antimicrobial coatings on white cheese for 2 months at 4 °C. Tensile properties analysis showed that the addition of NSs resulted in a decrease of elasticity, tensile strength, and elongation at break values. The best results regarding an antimicrobial effect as cheese coating were obtained in the case of the RFSE/AC-Th BC.

Open Innovation has great significance and so far several definitions have been proposed, the most widely accepted definition referring to the correlation of Open Innovation with research organizations. Helix models have been proposed to analyze how collaborations work among key stakeholders and research centers and they were found to have a prominent part in all their iterations. This work presents the challenges that research organizations face in terms of interaction with other organizations, their operations (resources, funding issues), and how they determine the research directions to be followed, and analyzes how the adoption of Open Innovation practices can tackle these challenges and the effects it has. The Open Innovation practices of outsourcing and co-creation are mentioned, with the latter needing to be further developed and elaborated. We propose a novel process, called Research Loop, which aims and succeeds to provide Open Innovation for research organizations. It achieves to involve several different organizations, identify existing research gaps, and produce new knowledge. The proposed process includes the various advantages of applying Open Innovation to the analyzed research centers.

This chapter comprises an integrative contribution to immobilized cell bioreactors technology. A short literature review is given in the introduction, followed by (1) the advances on cell immobilization technology, (2) immobilized cell bioreactors, and (3) their industrial developments. Finally, (4) the chapter makes a critique of immobilized cell bioreactors via a critical review investigation. Specifically, the effects of supports on kinetics and extremely low temperature fermentation, composite supports in relation to two- and three-layer fermentation, and the role of cell immobilization in cell factories development without genetic modifications are discussed. Likewise, the role of tubular cellulose and bacterial cellulose as promoter supports in fermentation are reported. Furthermore, supports and bioreactors, in correlation with multistage fixed bed tower bioreactor development and its applications, are reviewed extensively. Moreover, the cell immobilized bioreactors and their effects on industrial economic analysis, cost, and investment are also discussed. The cell immobilized bioreactors for low- and high-capacity bioprocessing and the industrialization of the technology are important subjects of this chapter. Due to the cell immobilized bioreactor being a technology suitable for beverage production, its effects on wine and beer quality is examined. Finally, an extensive critique of technology is performed of immobilization bioprocessing versus genetic modification, of immobilized cell bioreactor applications, and of the perspectives on nanobiotechnology applications.

Open innovation has been found to have many benefits and tangible results for those who partake in it. This study aims to showcase the importance of open innovation, and through a theoretical example present how an organization (university, research center, company, firm, etc.) can take action to implement open innovation guidelines. In this paper, firstly, a demonstration showing how open innovation can work with multiple partners is shown. Secondly, a model is presented that shows the steps an organization must follow to successfully implement open innovation. This model covers the introduction of an organization to open innovation from the initial interest to the implementation of the final product. Several success stories are also presented to demonstrate how these steps have been used by major organizations during several collaborations as well as the results produced from implementing open innovation.

The aim of this study is the consolidated bioprocessing of lactose into lactic acid and ethanol using non-engineered Cell Factories (CFs). Therefore, two different types of composite biocatalysts (CF1-CF2) based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae with immobilized microorganism or enzyme on starch gel (SG) were prepared for 5% w/v lactose fermentation. In CF1, S. cerevisiae was covered with SG containing Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Kluyveromyces marxianus CF1a-c. S. cerevisiae/SG-β-galactosidase (CF1d) was also used for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of lactose. In CF2, S. cerevisiae immobilized on tubular cellulose (TC) was covered with SG containing the aforementioned microorganisms (CF2a-c). The wet CF1d resulted in 96% of the theoretical ethanol yield while the wet CF1b and freeze-dried CF2b resulted in 89% of the theoretical lactic acid yield. The repeated batches using the CF2a-c exhibited better results than using CF1a-c. Subsequently, the freeze-dried CF2 as preservative and more manageable were verified for future exploitation of whey.

Advances such as cell-on-cell immobilization, multi-stage fixed bed tower (MFBT) bioreactor, promotional effect on fermentation, extremely low temperature fermentation, freeze dried immobilized cells in two-layer fermentation, non-engineered cell factories, and those of recent papers are demonstrated. Studies for possible industrialization of ICB, considering production capacity, low temperatures fermentations, added value products and bulk chemical production are studied. Immobilized cell bioreactors (ICB) using cellulose nano-biotechnology and engineered cells are reported. The development of a novel ICB with recent advances on high added value products and conceptual research areas for industrialization of ICB is proposed. The isolation of engineered flocculant cells leads to a single tank ICB. The concept of cell factories without GMO is a new research area. The conceptual development of multi-stage fixed bed tower membrane (MFBTM) ICB is discussed. Finally, feasible process design and technoeconomic analysis of cellulose hydrolysis using ICB are studied for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production.

Traceability is becoming an essential tool for both the industry and consumers to confirm the characteristics of food products, leading industries to implement traceability to their merchandise. In order for the Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI) to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implement traceability systems based on open innovation, principles were introduced. This paper presents market research that was carried out in order to determine the significant concerns of the Greek consumers about pork meat and pork products, their opinion on traceability information, and their preferences regarding how they would like to receive this information. The survey was conducted online and took place from mid-February to mid-March 2021 on a sample of 224 participants. The market research showed a very high interest concerning traceability, especially on the expiry date of the meat (87.9%), while the way and conditions of transport of the meat products follow (79%). Furthermore, consumers showed that they believe that the quality and safety of pork products would be improved with traceability (70.1%) and (79%) would prefer to buy traceable compared with untraceable pork, signifying the importance of traceability for consumers. Additionally, it was found that consumers and SMEs have common concerns regarding traceability. The information gathered from this market research will be used to adapt the traceability system to consumers’ needs.

The exploitation of starchy wastes for the production of value-added products and the consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) have a positive environmental and cost-effective impact. For this reason, a cell factory (CF) was employed to perform three bioprocesses in one step (CBP) for alcoholic fermentation of starch without genetic modification. CF is a bilayer biocatalyst consisting of an inner layer of immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae on tubular cellulose (TC) and an external layer of immobilized Aspergillus awamori on alginates (ALG). In first, the suggested CF was proved to be more effective compared with co-immobilized S. cerevisiae and A. awamori on ALG beads for starch fermentation. Subsequently, the effect of the (i) S. cerevisiae concentration (g S. cerevisiae/g TC) during its immobilization, (ii) CaCl 2 concentration (% w/v), (iii) form of bilayer CF (wet or freeze-dried) and (iv) freeze-dried CF concentration on 5% (w/v) starch fermentation was examined. It was found that the higher ethanol production (32.17 mL/L), productivity (4.60 mL/L/d) and yield (0.51 g ethanol/g starch) reaching the theoretical one were obtained when the CF in freeze dried form fermented 100 mL of 5% (w/v) starch solution. Finally, two repeated fermentation batches were performed using the best CF. The ethanol yield was decreased during the repeated fermentation batches, but remained in acceptable levels. The successful preparation of CF was verified with FTIR spectroscopy, SEM and TEM analysis. The results indicated that the objective of designing CF was successfully achieved, and the results are promising to be the base for the exploitation of starchy wastes and the development of an innovation in brewing industry by eliminating the malting stage. This CF can be applied as model for different bioprocesses of White Biotechnology, e.g. substituting S. cerevisiae with the appropriate microorganism to produce other metabolites of added value.

The objective of this project was to ferment lactose and whey to ethanol in one-step process. Models of cell factory of non-engineered S.cerevisiae have been proposed to ferment lactose. The cell factory of non-engineered S. cerevisiae/SG-lactase was prepared by the addition, of a starch gel solution containing lactase on non-engineered S. cerevisiae, and freeze drying of it. The 2-layer non engineered S.cerevisiae-TC/SG-lactase factory was prepared by immobilizing S. cerevisiae on the internal layer of tubular cellulose (TC), and the lactase enzyme was contained in the upper layer of starch gel (SG) covering cells of S. cerevisiae. Using such cell factory for the fermentation of lactose, alcohol yield of 23-32 mL/L at lactose conversion of 71-100%. The improvement in alcohol yield by cell factory versus co-immobilization of lactase enzyme and S. cerevisiae on alginates, was found in the range of 28-78%. Likewise, the cell factories are more effective than engineered S. cerevisiae. The fermentation of whey instead of lactose resulted in a significant reduction of the fermentation time. Freeze-dried cell factories led to improved results as compared with non-freeze dried. When lactase was substituted with L. casei, ethanol and lactic acid were produced simultaneously at high concentrations, but in a much longer fermentation time. The cell factories can be considered as models for white biotechnology using lactose containing raw materials. This suggested cell factory model can be applied for other bioconversions using the appropriate enzymes and cells, in the frame of White Biotechnology without genetic modification.

In this work we suggest a methodology comprising the design and use of cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly process for biofuel production compatible with the market demands. A new generation biofuel is produced using fatty acids, which were generated from acidogenesis of industrial wastes of bioethanol distilleries, and esterified with selected alcohols by immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase-B. Suitable reactors with significant parameters and conditions were studied through experimental design, and novel esterification processes were suggested; among others, the continuous removal of the produced water was provided. Finally, economically sustainable biofuel production was achieved providing high ester yield (<97%) along with augmented concentration (3.35M) in the reaction mixtures at relatively short esterification times, whereas the immobilized lipase maintained over 90% of its initial esterifying ability after reused for ten cycles.

Delignified wheat straw was fermented by a mixed bacterial anaerobic culture obtained from a UASB reactor to produce organic acids (OAs). Kissiris was used as immobilization carrier in a 2-compartment 82 L bioreactor filled with 17 L of fermentation broth for the first 7 fermentation batches and up to 40 L for the subsequent batches. The amount of straw used was 30 g/L and the temperature was set at 37 degrees C for all experiments. The total OAs reached concentrations up to 17.53 g/L and the produced ethanol ranged from 0.3 to 1 mL/L. The main OAs produced was acetic acid (6-8 g/L) and butyric acid (3-8 g/L). The OAs were recovered from the fermentation broth by a downstream process using 1-butanol, which was the solvent with the best recovery yields and also served as the esterification alcohol. The enzymatic esterification of OAs resulted to 90% yield. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This article presents a comprehensive review on hydrolysis and acidogenesis of lignocellulosic waste biomass and makes clear new perspectives in biofuel research. Specifically, the acidogenesis of ligno-cellulosics and liquid effluent have been discussed extensively with potential goal the production of a new generation biofuel. This new biofuel can be produced through esterification of volatile fatty acids with ethanol (produced simultaneously during the acidogenesis) or/and with another alcohol. That will overcome the major problems faced during bioethanol production and concerns the high energy demand of the bioethanol production plant. Specifically, it was found that the main volatile fatty acids formed are formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, lactic and valeric. Their formation depends on NADH/NAD(+) proportion and on conditions such as pH, organic load and chemical composition of the waste is treated. These conditions look to affect microorganisms survival and the formation of predominant acetic, butyric and lactic acid. The use of g-alumina promotes the formation of volatile fatty acids simultaneously with bioethanol. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The present study focused on organic acids (OAs) recovery from an acidogenic fermentation broth, which is the main problem regarding the use of OAs for production of ester-based new generation biofuels or other applications. Specifically, 10 solvents were evaluated for OAs recovery from aqueous media and fermentation broths. The effects of pH, solvent/OAs solution ratios and application of successive extractions were studied. The 1: 1 solvent/OAs ratio showed the best recovery rates in most cases. Butyric and isobutyric acids showed the highest recovery rates (80-90%), while lactic, succinic, and acetic acids were poorly recovered (up to 45%). The OAs recovery was significantly improved by successive 10-min extractions. Alcohols presented the best extraction performance. The process using repeated extractions with 3-methyl-1-butanol led to the highest OAs recovery. However, 1-butanol can be considered as the most cost-effective option taking into account its price and availability. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular polymer produced by many microorganisms. The Komagataeibacter genus is the best producer using semi-synthetic media and agricultural wastes. The main advantages of BC are the nanoporous structure, high water content and free hydroxyl groups. Modification of BC can be made by two strategies: in-situ, during the BC production, and ex-situ after BC purification. In bioprocesses, multilayer BC nanocomposites can contain biocatalysts designed to be suitable for outside to inside cell activities. These nanocomposites biocatalysts can (i) increase productivity in bioreactors and bioprocessing, (ii) provide cell activities does not possess without DNA cloning and (iii) provide novel nano-carriers for cell inside activity and bioprocessing. In nanomedicine, BC matrices containing therapeutic molecules can be used for pathologies like skin burns, and implantable therapeutic devices. In nanoelectronics, semiconductors BC-based using salts and synthetic polymers brings novel films showing excellent optical and photochemical properties.

An economic evaluation of an integrated technology for industrial scale new generation biofuel production using whey, vinasse, and lignocellulosic biomass as raw materials is reported. Anaerobic packed-bed bioreactors were used for organic acids production using initially synthetic media and then wastes. Butyric, lactic and acetic acid were predominately produced from vinasse, whey, and cellulose, respectively. Mass balance was calculated for a 16,000L daily production capacity. Liquid-liquid extraction was applied for recovery of the organic acids using butanol-1 as an effective extraction solvent which serves also as the alcohol for the subsequent enzyme-catalyzed esterification. The investment needed for the installation of the factory was estimated to about 1.7million€ with depreciation excepted at about 3months. For cellulosics, the installation investment was estimated to be about 7-fold higher with depreciation at about 1.5years. The proposed technology is an alternative trend in biofuel production.