Zhang Guangming, Li Jingyi, Liu Shiqi, Hou Pengfei, Tao Xue, Gao Wenfang, Sun Li, Lv Longyi, Liang Jinsong
School of Energy & Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.
Department of Resources and Environment, Moutai Institute, Luban Avenue, Renhuai City, Guizhou Province 564507, China.
Biotechnol Adv. 2025 Oct;83:108654. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108654. Epub 2025 Jul 21.
Lignocellulosic biomass is a possible alternative for fossil fuels due to its widespread availability and numerous benefits. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are important intermediates that can be converted into biofuels or chemicals. VFA production from lignocellulosic biomass via anaerobic fermentation is a promising approach for resource utilization. However, the high crystallinity and complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass limit its hydrolysis, thereby affecting VFA production. Rumen microorganisms (RMs) can efficiently break down cellulose and hemicellulose, offering distinct advantages during lignocellulose degradation. Recently, RMs have been used as an efficient inoculum for degrading lignocellulosic biomass to produce VFAs. Therefore, a review of VFA production from lignocellulosic biomass via anaerobic fermentation with RMs is necessary. To date, main factors affecting VFA production, novel reactor designs for VFA production, and main strategies enhancing VFA production have not been reviewed. In this review, the key RMs, hydrolases, and metabolic pathways involved in the conversion of lignocellulose into VFAs are analyzed. Recent advancements regarding the fermentation of lignocellulose to produce VFAs by RMs and the key factors involved are summarized. Moreover, enhancement strategies for VFA production and recovery methods for VFAs are explored. Finally, the current challenges and prospects for the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass to produce VFAs by RMs are presented. This review offers insights and approaches for efficient VFA production from lignocellulosic biomass using RMs.
木质纤维素生物质因其广泛可得性和诸多益处而成为化石燃料的一种可能替代物。挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs）是重要的中间体，可转化为生物燃料或化学品。通过厌氧发酵从木质纤维素生物质生产VFAs是一种很有前景的资源利用方法。然而，木质纤维素生物质的高结晶度和复杂结构限制了其水解，从而影响VFAs的生产。瘤胃微生物（RMs）能够有效分解纤维素和半纤维素，在木质纤维素降解过程中具有显著优势。近年来，RMs已被用作降解木质纤维素生物质以生产VFAs的高效接种物。因此，有必要对利用RMs通过厌氧发酵从木质纤维素生物质生产VFAs进行综述。迄今为止，尚未对影响VFAs生产的主要因素、用于VFAs生产的新型反应器设计以及提高VFAs生产的主要策略进行综述。在本综述中，分析了参与将木质纤维素转化为VFAs的关键RMs、水解酶和代谢途径。总结了近年来RMs将木质纤维素发酵生产VFAs的进展及相关关键因素。此外，还探讨了提高VFAs生产的策略和VFAs的回收方法。最后，介绍了利用RMs将木质纤维素生物质发酵生产VFAs目前面临的挑战和前景。本综述为利用RMs从木质纤维素生物质高效生产VFAs提供了见解和方法。
