A novel biocatalyst platform for biobased-synthesis of 1,3-propanediol

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£2,047,825

Feb. 1, 2021

Jan. 31, 2022

Biomanufacturing has emerged as a promising alternative to chemocatalysis for green, renewable, complex synthesis of biofuels, medicines, and fine chemicals. Cell-free chemical biosynthesis offers additional advantages over in vivo fermentation methods, by enabling plug-and-play assembly of separately produced enzymes into an optimal cascade, versatile reaction conditions, and direct access to the reaction environment.

FabricNano have developed a synthetic biology, DNA-based nanoreactor platform technology with the potential to transform the UK's chemical synthesis industry.

Their approach vastly improves reaction kinetics of multi-enzyme cascade kinetics to yield product quickly, and can contribute to the greening and sustainability of chemical production.

FabricNano have identified a multi-enzyme cascade that converts waste glycerine into 1,3-Propanediol (PDO).

Bioethanol/biodiesel production creates waste glycerine, valued at 20p/kg; PDO is valued at £9/kg, due to it utility across many applications (plastics, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning products)

There is significant demand for PDO, but just four leading manufacturers have an annual output c. 142.5 kilotons/year. PDO chemical processing techniques are energy intensive, consume metal catalysts, and create dangerous working conditions. State-of-the-art approaches convert sugars and polyols to PDO via fermentation. However, fermentation relies on lengthy yeast culture, and consumes significant energy and fresh water.

Because the Covid crisis is restricting the market for the UK's biodiesel/bioethanol producers (less leisure travel and freight services has lowered demand), FabricNano have identified an opportunity to:

1. Help bioethanol/biodiesel producers to remain profitable/viable operators during the Covid crisis by creating added-value for a low-value waste stream.
2. Create a domestic supply chain for PDO (currently no producers in the UK).

The project will help to demonstrate the viability of FabricNano's biocatalyst at an industrial scale. It will also prove utility of FabricNano technology for coupling cascading enzyme reactions for the conversion of low value renewable feedstocks into high value products, which represents a keystone of renewable green chemistry.