Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Lignocellulosics with an Acetogenic Co-culture | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Lignocellulosics with an Acetogenic Co-culture Natálie Palucha, Javeria Ibrahim, Elodie Vlaeminck, Koen Quataert, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8805993/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract linenumbers Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of lignocellulosic substrates is often constrained by the need to reconcile the operating conditions required for enzymatic hydrolysis with those necessary for microbial growth. In addition, bioprocesses using lignocellulosic feedstocks are frequently limited by incomplete utilisation of mixed saccharides. Acetogens represent a promising alternative to traditional fermentative hosts because they metabolise a broad range of saccharides and can incorporate \ce{CO2} that is typically released as waste in conventional bioprocesses, yet their application in integrated SSF systems remains unexplored. Therefore, this study presents a framework for such an integrated approach by combining saccharification with Cellic textregistered CTec3 HS and fermentation by an acetogenic co-culture grown on pre-treated paper and cardboard waste. The pH–temperature activity profile of the enzyme mixture is mapped and compared with the physiological tolerances of Blautia schinkii and Clostridium ljungdahlii , identifying pH 6.0 and 37\,\textdegree C as conditions compatible with both enzymatic hydrolysis and acetogenic growth. Under these conditions, a 3.6\,L bioreactor trial is used to demonstrate simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of all major monosaccharides present in the feedstock. These results provide the first demonstration of integrated SSF using multiple acetogenic microorganisms and establish a foundation for developing carbon conversion efficient lignocellulosic bioprocesses. Lignocellulosic biomass Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation Acetogenic bacteria Carbon conversion Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files GraphicalAbstract.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8805993","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":589428050,"identity":"6a31dc8f-34b0-4347-93af-8f1e0ae5f2e1","order_by":0,"name":"Natálie Palucha","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Natálie","middleName":"","lastName":"Palucha","suffix":""},{"id":589428051,"identity":"933139a3-fcf2-4a03-8650-7b335cf0fd37","order_by":1,"name":"Javeria Ibrahim","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Javeria","middleName":"","lastName":"Ibrahim","suffix":""},{"id":589428052,"identity":"383d03e3-79bb-440c-8c72-08c18883cea1","order_by":2,"name":"Elodie Vlaeminck","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Elodie","middleName":"","lastName":"Vlaeminck","suffix":""},{"id":589428053,"identity":"411d70f2-f216-4386-8fad-7dc9cdce028f","order_by":3,"name":"Koen Quataert","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Koen","middleName":"","lastName":"Quataert","suffix":""},{"id":589428054,"identity":"124f47be-0b2a-482e-b241-b2c048755513","order_by":4,"name":"Evelien Uitterhaegen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Evelien","middleName":"","lastName":"Uitterhaegen","suffix":""},{"id":589428055,"identity":"00c065a6-1b7b-4aeb-96ad-b34b3974403d","order_by":5,"name":"Karel De Winter","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABCUlEQVRIie3PMUsDMRTA8XcUzqXQ9ZXA3VdIOVChUL/KCweXpcWhSwbBQCH9Ch36IbqJW6VwLieuN5Uews03iZOYszgUTKubYP7DIwR+JA/A5/uDYTt20LEz0O054vgTQl9kDZD8htgsEatTpD9/qnYEwwgwNS+N2so7NssR1HakHYR1ZcIJZAIo5nxdTCf3yzxDKKapi0SQhUiwEZoJgw+GJqtyfI6BodT1sahXn71Zcrsn7yR5ef16lDDMQrv+huCTaCJejsOWjJzrL+oOEpcDE1cGi5wGdpfkkgoiF8HnLGgaNYx73cca1Q3FF2xWlY2iKxfZxwHCgwv7hNDHzTedeMXn8/n+UR+zmFOnYXizHAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Karel","middleName":"","lastName":"De Winter","suffix":""},{"id":589428056,"identity":"7d37d300-cabe-40b8-a89a-8d90b5f260b3","order_by":6,"name":"Wim Soetaert","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wim","middleName":"","lastName":"Soetaert","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-06 10:53:34","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8805993/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8805993/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104350637,"identity":"3fc08912-1b54-424b-9772-064c0256d99c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-10 19:24:41","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":12814414,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Latexfiles.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8805993/v1_covered_adc4470c-5ffb-4580-ab2e-343418798949.pdf"},{"id":102565053,"identity":"3cf3438d-a8db-49ce-af90-15c6f224c959","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-13 05:37:26","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":2152481,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"GraphicalAbstract.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8805993/v1/84a0569fc381c30a2704e626.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Lignocellulosics with an Acetogenic Co-culture","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"
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