Microbial processing of organic waste into valuable products: biopolymers and biofuels.

The perspective of converting residual biomass into biofuels, biomaterials, chemicals or animal feed is crucial towards the integration of all kinds of greatly available biowaste into a new bio-based economy. The most promising approach appears to be the design of novel microbial bioconversion processes as part of more complex biorefinery concept. This work will report the conversion of cheese whey and animal by-products into biopolymers. The production of ethanol by engineered yeasts capable of fermenting starchy and cellulosic materials will also be presented together with the microbial production of biohydrogen from OFMSW (Organic Fraction Municipal Solid Waste). In the future, the most interesting microbial processes will be further studied to define their proper integration as a biorefinery processing of several organic residues into different high-value products.