Four studies were conducted to develop an innovative application of fungal biopulping technologies to improve commercialization of lignocellulosic ethanol biofuel production using sustainable waste products. The first study focused on evaluation and development of fungal pretreatments for lignocellulosic ethanol using waste tulip poplar wood chips. The second study focused on the optimization of fungal pretreatments inoculation methods for laboratory and pilot scale applications. The third study focused on single versus simultaneous species inoculations for reduced pretreatment staging. The fourth study focused on evaluation of North Carolina derived, novel wood decay fungi for two-stage biopulping applications. These studies demonstrate that specific naturally occurring wood decay fungi can be utilized in an innovative two-stage whole organism approach to significantly increase enzymatic hydrolysis yield of soluble glucose. The potential to augment enzymatic hydrolysis is most promising for continued study. Considering the numerous cost and sustainability advantages over current methods due to reduced enzyme load and increased enzymatic hydrolysis yield, novel biopulping technologies could make a significant contribution to the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable commercial lignocellulosic ethanol production.
