Biorefine-2G: Production of Dicarboxylic Acids and Bio-Based Polymers Derived Thereof from Waste Streams

Xiao Chen, Vratislav Stovicek, Irina Borodina, Jochen Förster^*

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark

Kogle Alle 6, 2970 Hørsholm  * jfor@biosustain.dtu.dk, Tel: (+45) 4525 8000

Abstract

In the future petrochemicals will be replaced by biosustainable fuels and chemicals produced from renewable resources. The BioREFINE-2G project aims at developing commercially attractive second generation biorefinery processes, where pentose-containing waste streams can be converted into dicarboxylic acids. The acids can be used as monomers for production of bio-based polymers, including biodegradable polyesters.

BioREFINE-2G is an FP7 funded project with eight distinguished industrial and academic partners. Strong industry drive is ensured by participation of 4 SMEs and 1 large enterprise. All industry partners will assure demonstration activities and investigate the technical, environmental and commercial feasibility of the new process with regard to scale up to industrial production. Overall, an innovative process for bio-based chemicals production from bio-waste will represent a paradigm shift with a tremendous impact in regard to commercial viability and environmental issues such as reduction of waste, less pollution and less greenhouse gas emissions. More information can be found at www.biorefine2g.eu.

The improvement in the production titer of the desired dicarboxylic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strain was achieved through the application of overexpression and deletion strategies by 3 fold and 10 fold, respectively. And further improvement can be expected through combining the overexpression and deletion strategies applied in one strain and fermentation optimization. Toolboxes for efficient deletion and insertion of the genes of interest in S. cerevisiae industrial strains were created. In addition, the heterologous pathway from the major carbon source in the waste streams to the desired dicarboxylic acid was successfully established in S. cerevisiae industrial strains.