Biological detoxification of furfural and 5-hydroxyl methyl furfural in hydrolysate of oil palm empty fruit bunch by Enterobacter sp. FDS8

Biological detoxification of furfural and 5-hydroxyl methyl furfural (HMF) from lignocellulose hydrolysate is commercially attractive, but the lower process efficiency limits its practical applications. Highly efficient detoxification of furfural and HMF was developed by simply adding the whole cells of a newly isolated Enterobacter sp. FDS8 without the requirement of adding anything else, giving furfural and HMF degradation rates of up to 0.54 g L−1 h−1 and 0.12 g L−1 h−1, respectively, which are the highest biodetoxification rates ever reported, with a total sugar loss of below 5%. The whole cells were able to be recycled and reused for at least 5 times without losing their detoxification capability. When used for fermentation to produce lactic acid by Lactobacillus pentosus, the biologically detoxified oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) hydrolysate gave higher lactic acid productivity (1.7-fold), titer (1.5-fold) and yield (1.8-fold) compared to the un-detoxified EFB hydrolysate.

► Biological degradation of furfural and 5-hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF) by an new isolate.
► The highest biodegradation rates of furfural and HMF ever reported.
► Recycle and reuse of whole cells of the new isolates for at least 5 times without losing biodegradation efficiency.