Dr. Kuan-Chen Cheng joined the Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, as a faculty member in 2011, after having obtained his PhD in Microbial Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University in 2010, followed by one year of postdoctoral training at the University of Arizona at Tucson. Dr. Cheng was honored an IAFoST fellow in 2024 and became a distinguished professor in 2025.Dr. Cheng has mentored 10 post-doc fellows, 12 PhD students, and 100+ master students already. The R&D work of his group focuses on three major areas: renewable energy, food biotechnology, and precision health. Major areas in which he has been actively involved in recent years include (1)the introduction of novel techniques for the bio-industry, including cold plasma technology, electrospinning, and biofilm cultivation; (2) the establishment of food fermentation processes that have assisted the local food industry in producing value-added functional foods; and (3) the design of functional biomaterials for medical applications. His work has been recognized at an international level as reflected by his publication record of over 200+ SCI-listed journal articles (9,400 citations and h-index of 51) in bioprocessing-related fields.

Construction of Yeast Immobilization System and Valorization of Agricultural By-Products for Bioethanol Production

Abstract

Our study utilizes 3D printing to fabricate cell carriers coated with agricultural by-products, such as soybean meal and rice husk. This surface modification enhances the physical and chemical properties of the carriers, upregulating biofilm-related genes and promoting the attachment of thermotolerant yeast (Kluyveromycesmarxianus) without altering its genetic makeup.

Compared to traditional suspension cultures, the cell immobilization system significantly improves bioethanol yield and overall volumetric productivity. Furthermore, the 3D-printed carriers demonstrate high structural stability and reusability, maintaining consistently superior fermentation performance across multiple repeated batches.

By applying response surface methodology, the study highlights the synergistic effects of key fermentation parameters under optimized conditions. Overall, combining 3D-printed carriers with agricultural by-product coatings provides a robust and scalable cell adsorption strategy for sustainable, commercial-scale bioethanol production.

Keywords:Kluyveromycesmarxianus, adsorption immobilization, 3D printing, bioethanol, agricultural waste.