Abstract:

Recent developments in the use of 1,3-propanedidol (PD) as a monomer for novel polyesters and biodegradable plastics lead to a strong market need for economical and sustainable production of this emerging bulk chemical, preferably by a biological route. PD can only be produced naturally by micro-organisms from glycerol. The present production volume and price of glycerol is prohibitive for the biological route to compete with the chemical route. The objective of this proposal is thus to extend the substrate spectrum of microbial PD to cheaper and more abundant renewable resources (glucose, starch and sucrose). This will be achieved by designing new biological pathways and biocatalysts with genetic tools and by developing novel process configurations. The process developed will be demonstrated on pilot-plan scale. It will open new ways for the flexible utilisation of renewable resources for non-food value-added products.

Objectives:

The objectives of this proposal are two-fold:

1. to develop new biological pathways and biocatalysts with molecular biological tools and novel bioprocess control strategies for an economical production of a versatile bulk chemical 1,3-propanediol (e.g. used as a monomer for the production of a recently commercialised large-volume new polyester polytrimethylene terephthalate and biodegradable plastics);
2. to provide a flexible and sustainable way for the use of cheap and abundant renewable resources such as glucose, starch and sucrose for value-added, non-food products. The economical and technical feasibility of the developed process will be analysed and the preferred approach will be demonstrated on a semi-industrial scale.

Contacts

Coordinator

• GBF Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH GERMANY

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant

• GIE Lesaffre Developpement FRANCE
• Philippe SOUCAILLE / Metabolic Explorer FRANCE
• Isabel VASCONCELOS / Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia / PORTUGAL