Biochemicals synthesis

We are currently working on the synthesis of a wide range of important biochemicals through sustainable bioconversion pathways. We are developing novel pathways to synthesize organic acids such as citric acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, oxalic acid, levulinic acid, acetic acid etc through optimized bioconversion processes. We are also exploring the biosynthesis of chemical products such as reducing sugars, enzymes, xanthan gum, furfural etc.

Some papers published already under this theme are listed as follows.

• Amenaghawon, N.A., Orukpe, I.P., Nwanbi-Victor, J., Okedi, O.M. and Aburime, E.I. (2022). Enhanced Lipase Production from a Ternary Substrate Mix of Agricultural Residues: A Case of Optimization of Microbial Inducers and Global Sensitivity Analysis. Bioresource Technology Reports, 17, p. 101000.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Odika, C.P. and Aiwekoe, E.S. (2021). Optimisation of Nutrient Medium Composition for the Production of Lipase from Waste Cooking Oil using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network. Chemical Engineering Communications, 2021, pp. 1-11.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Osagie, E.I. and Ogbeide, S.E (2016). Application of Experimental Design to the Optimisation of Combined Acid and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cocoyam Starch to Produce Fermentable Hydrolysate. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 24(1), pp. 123-136.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Ogbeide, S.E. and Okieimen, C.O. (2014). Application of Statistical Experimental Design for the Optimisation of Dilute Sulphuric Acid Hydrolysis of Cassava Bagasse. Acta Polytechnica Hungarica, 11(9), pp. 239-250.
• Amenaghawon, N.A, Nwaru, K.I., Aisien, F.A., Ogbeide, S.E and Okieimen, C.O. (2013). Application of Box-Behnken Design for the Optimization of Citric Acid Production from Corn Starch Using Aspergillus niger. British Biotechnology Journal, 3(3), pp. 236-245.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Ogbeide, S.E. and Okieimen, C.O. (2014). Statistical experimental design for the optimisation of dilute sulphuric acid hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch. South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 19(2), pp. 32-41.
• Amenaghawon, N.A. and Agbedor, M. (2021). A Multilayer Full Feed Forward Neural Network for Modelling and Optimizing Nutrient Medium Composition for Oxalic Acid Production from Sweet Potato Peels. ATBU Journal of Science, Technology and Education, 9(1), pp. 44-53
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Osazuwa, O.U. and Ebewele, O.E. (2015). Optimising the effect of stimulants on citric acid production from cocoyam starch using Aspergillus niger.  Nigerian Journal of Technology, 34(4), pp. 724-730.
• Amenaghawon, N.A. Ebewele, O.E. and Salokun, O. (2016). Application of Box-Behnken Design for Optimum Citric Acid Production from Cocoyam Starch Hydrolysate using Aspergillus niger. Nigerian Journal of Technological Research, 11(1), pp. 32-39.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Osayuki-Aguebor, W. and Egharevba, I.P. (2015). Effect of Acid mixtures on the Hydrolysis of Coconut Coir for Recovery of Fermentable Sugars. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 19 (3) pp. 345- 351.
• Amenaghawon, N.A. and Kazeem, J.O. (2020). Evaluation of the Comparative Performance of Response Surface Methodology, Artificial Neural Network and Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System for Modelling and Optimising Oxalic Acid Production from Pineapple Waste. FUW Trends in Science and Technology Journal, 5(1) pp. 255 – 263.
• Amenaghawon, N.A. and Yerimah, E.L. (2020). Application of Plant Oils and Surfactants as Stimulating Agents for Optimum Citric Acid Production from Cassava bagasse. FUW Trends in Science and Technology Journal, 5(2), pp. 407 – 413.
• Amenaghawon N.A., Oiwoh, O. and Ebewele, O.E. (2015). Optimisation of solid state fermentation of banana peels for citric acid production. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 34(4), pp. 716-723.
• Amenaghawon, N.A, Okieimen, C.O. and Ogbeide, S.E. (2014). Modeling and Statistical Optimization of Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Eucalyptus Wood Chips using Response Surface Methodology. Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 15(1), pp. 245-256.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Ighodalo, H., Agbonghae, E.O., Ogbeide, S.E., and Okieimen, C.O. (2014). Modelling and Optimisation of Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Corn Stover using Box-Behnken Design. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 9(4), pp. 443-454.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Okhueleigbe K.E., Ogbeide, S.E and Okieimen, C.O. (2014). Modelling the Kinetics of Essential Oils Recovery from Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon spp.) by Steam Distillation. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 12(2), pp. 107-115.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Aminat, B.A., Agbonghae, E.O., Ogbeide, S.E. and Okieimen, C.O. (2013). Statistical Optimisation of Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Corn Stover Using Response Surface Methodology. Journal of Environment, 2(2), pp. 34-40.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Osemwengie, S.O., Omoregbe, O. and Asogwa, U.J. (2015). Application of experimental design method for the optimisation of xanthan gum production from pineapple peels using Xanthomonas campestris via submerged fermentation. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 34(3), pp. 491-498.
• Amenaghawon, N.A, Okie-Aghughu, O. and Ogbeide, S.E. (2015). Modelling and Statistical Optimisation of Citric Acid Production from Solid State Fermentation of Sugar Cane Bagasse using Aspergillus niger. University of Benin Journal of Sciences and Technology, 3(1), pp. 77-87.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Ogbeide, S.E. and Okieimen, C.O. (2015). Optimisation of Dilute Sulphuric Acid Hydrolysis of Waste Newspaper for High Yields of Fermentable Sugars. Nigerian Journal of Technological Research, 10(1), pp. 63-70
• Amenaghawon N.A., Okieimen, E.A. and Osayuki-Aguebor W. (2014). Optimum recovery of fermentable sugars from cassava bagasse for bioethanol production using combined sulphuric and phosphoric acid catalysed hydrolysis. Nigerian Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 12(1), pp. 20-29.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Oronsaye, J.E and Ogbeide, S.E. (2014). Statistical Optimisation of Fermentation Conditions for Citric Acid Production from Pineapple Peels. Nigerian Journal of Technological Research, 9(2), pp. 20-26.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Ogbeide, S.E. and Okieimen, C.O. (2014). Statistical optimisation of lime pretreatment of corn stover using response surface methodology. Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics, 28(1), pp. 499-504.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Salokun, O., Okhonmina, J.O. and Egharevba, I.P. (2017). Determination of Optimum Composition of Fermentation Medium for Citric Acid Production from Watermelon Rinds using Response Surface Methodology. Tropical Journal of Natural Products Research, 1(1), pp. 12-16.
• Amenaghawon, N.A., Osakue, I.Y., Ebewele, O.E., and Emoghene, E. (2017). An Experimental Design Approach for Determining Optimum Nutrient Medium Composition for Citric Acid Production from Pineapple Peels. FUPRE Journal of Industrial and Scientific Research, 1(1), pp. 1-10
•  Amenaghawon, N. A. and Aisien, F. A. (2012). Modelling and simulation of citric acid production from corn starch hydrolysate using Aspergillus niger. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 2(1), pp. 73-85.