One-step microbial conversion of waste molasses into bioactive fulvic-like acid fertilizer for sustainable soil quality improvement and agricultural waste valorization
- 1Jilin Collaborative Innovation Center for Antibody Engineering, Jilin Medical University
- 2Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Land Conservation, College of Resources and Environmental Science, Education Ministry of China, Jilin Agricultural University
- 3College of Laboratory, Jilin Medical University
Abstract
Waste molasses (WM), a carbon rich by-product of sugar production, is frequently underutilized, resulting in environmental pollution and resource loss. In this study, a one-step microbial bioconversion process using Bacillus subtilis was developed to transform WM into molasses derived fulvic acid (MFA). The highest MFA yield (33.54%) was achieved at 35 °C, 48 h, and a 5% inoculation rate. Integrated GC-MS and LC-MS analyses revealed dynamic substrate transformation during fermentation and suggested that 4-hydroxy-2-methylacetophenone, 4-oxododecanedioic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-octylpentanedioic acid were putative intermediates involved in MFA formation. Structural characterization showed that the resulting MFA possessed a loose, porous morphology and abundant hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl groups. In a single 150 d field trial, MFA application was associated with higher soil organic carbon and humus contents than the unfertilized control and promoted maize vegetative growth. MFA also enriched the microbial communities including Pseudomonas , Acidobacterium , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes . The abundance of several genes related to carbon assimilation and carboxylation, including rbcL , rbcS , accB , accC , and pccA , has also increased. Metabolomic analysis further revealed shifts in metabolites associated with central carbon metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway MFA application also markedly promoted maize growth without chemical fertilizer input, demonstrating its potential as an organic soil amendment and partial fertilizer substitute. Collectively, these findings suggest that a one-step microbial transformation can convert WM into functional fulvic-like acid fertilizer. This method provides a potential route for mineral derived FA production. Simultaneously combining the reuse of agricultural waste, improvement of soil quality, reduction of partial fertilizer dependence, and development of circular agriculture.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026onestep,
title = {{One-step microbial conversion of waste molasses into bioactive fulvic-like acid fertilizer for sustainable soil quality improvement and agricultural waste valorization}},
author = {Yuan Zhang and Shijun Pan and Ruinan Wang and Haiming Cheng and Sheng Feng and Huiyan Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1998010},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1998010/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - One-step microbial conversion of waste molasses into bioactive fulvic-like acid fertilizer for sustainable soil quality improvement and agricultural waste valorization
AU - Yuan Zhang
AU - Shijun Pan
AU - Ruinan Wang
AU - Haiming Cheng
AU - Sheng Feng
AU - Huiyan Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1998010
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1998010/full
AB - Waste molasses (WM), a carbon rich by-product of sugar production, is frequently underutilized, resulting in environmental pollution and resource loss. In this study, a one-step microbial bioconversion process using Bacillus subtilis was developed to transform WM into molasses derived fulvic acid (MFA). The highest MFA yield (33.54%) was achieved at 35 °C, 48 h, and a 5% inoculation rate. Integrated GC-MS and LC-MS analyses revealed dynamic substrate transformation during fermentation and suggested that 4-hydroxy-2-methylacetophenone, 4-oxododecanedioic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-octylpentanedioic acid were putative intermediates involved in MFA formation. Structural characterization showed that the resulting MFA possessed a loose, porous morphology and abundant hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl groups. In a single 150 d field trial, MFA application was associated with higher soil organic carbon and humus contents than the unfertilized control and promoted maize vegetative growth. MFA also enriched the microbial communities including Pseudomonas , Acidobacterium , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes . The abundance of several genes related to carbon assimilation and carboxylation, including rbcL , rbcS , accB , accC , and pccA , has also increased. Metabolomic analysis further revealed shifts in metabolites associated with central carbon metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway MFA application also markedly promoted maize growth without chemical fertilizer input, demonstrating its potential as an organic soil amendment and partial fertilizer substitute. Collectively, these findings suggest that a one-step microbial transformation can convert WM into functional fulvic-like acid fertilizer. This method provides a potential route for mineral derived FA production. Simultaneously combining the reuse of agricultural waste, improvement of soil quality, reduction of partial fertilizer dependence, and development of circular agriculture.
SN - 1664-302X
ER -