CPI is working with ReBio Technologies Ltd and the University of Bath to produce modified strains of microorganisms to produce D-lactic acid for the manufacture of bio based products such as high performance bioplastics. The project has the potential to address an important need in the industrial biotechnology community by transitioning away from petrochemical and agricultural-based feedstocks to second generation waste derived feedstocks. The project intends to demonstrate lab scale production of D-lactic acid from modified Geobacillus strains. Once proven, these lab scale demonstrations will then be employed to design and demonstrate a scalable manufacturing process.
Using second generation waste derived feedstocks, such as animal wastes or scraps from food production, that currently have little or no value are ideal. This would increase their economic worth while reducing waste and providing additional support to a growing waste problem.
The bacterial host grows at high temperatures and has the ability to convert long chain sugars (C5-C6) from non-food materials. This approach would enable the production of D-lactic acid directly via fermentation rather than current processes which require chemical conversion of L-lactic acid produced from food based feedstocks such as starch.
Unlike traditional plastics and biodegradable plastics, bioplastics generally do not produce a net increase in carbon dioxide gas when they break down. The concept behind bioplastics is simple: if we make plastics from renewable feedstocks to start with, they’d break down more quickly and easily.
ReBio Technologies Ltd is an industrial biotechnology company specialising in the development of proprietary routes to key commodity platform biochemical and has experience in developing industrial strains based on a Geobacillus host bacteria for the production of bioethanol.
The company develops and applies cutting edge tools in biotechnology to elucidate and design new biosynthetic pathways in a range of microbial hosts, for the efficient and cost-effective production of high-value chemicals through fermentation. This, coupled with state-of-the-art polymer technology, provides manufacturing industries with innovative solutions to their raw material requirements. Industrial biotechnology is recognised by UK government as a promising means of developing low carbon products and processes. The technology that the project is hoping to demonstrate has the potential to unlock an economic approach to transforming cellulosic sugars and the millions of tonnes of food and landfill waste derived sugars produced every year into sustainable, high value chemicals.
In addition to the above, the project will develop a business model and identify partners for future development activities.
Dan Noakes, Business Development Manager at CPI said ‘’Biobased polymers will have a major part to play in the fruition of the biobased economy. D-lactic acid is a challenge to produce but it has the potential to open new markets for Polylactic acid use in high performance structural materials. Rebio’s technology will enable the use of a variety of waste sugars and this lends itself well to CPI’s aspiration to develop a sustainable biorefinery platform.’’
Jonathan Glen CEO of ReBio Technologies Ltd said ‘’ReBio is committed to finding new ways to utilise waste in a sustainable and commercially viable process. This program and its successful outcome will help to strengthen our development, commercialisation, and manufacture of products that show the strength of UK innovation at its best’’.
The University of Bath team is led by Professor David Leak who has been supervising projects involving Geobacillus physiology and molecular biology since the early 1990s and who has led the academic research on a series of projects involving ReBio.
Professor David Leak of University of Bath said “Geobacillus are very versatile organisms for second generation processes using biomass-derived feedstocks. As they grow both aerobically and anaerobically they are easy to handle and we have developed a suite of molecular biology tools which are a pre-requisite for metabolic engineering projects such as this. We are pleased to be involved with this project, which will establish process feasibility for biopolymer production using this host, and extends our links with ReBio and CPI”.
About CPI
The Centre for Process Innovation is a UK-based technology innovation centre and part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. We use applied knowledge in science and engineering combined with state of the art development facilities to enable our clients to develop, prove, prototype and scale up the next generation of products and processes.
Our open innovation model enables clients to develop products and prove processes with minimal risk. We provide assets and expertise so our customers can demonstrate the process before investing substantial amounts of money in capital equipment and training. New products and processes can be shown to be feasible; on paper, in the lab and in the plant before being manufactured at an industrial scale.
By utilising our proven assets and expertise companies can take their products and processes to market faster. There is no down time in production as all of the process development is completed offsite and our technology transfer and engineering teams can help companies to transfer the product or process into full scale production at speed.
Source
CPI, press release, 2015-11-18.
Supplier
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)
University of Bath
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