Breakthrough in Biotechnology: New Methods for Manufacturing Chemicals from Renewable Resources

Strategic Insights -

A team of five industry leaders, including Genencor International, Eastman Chemical Company, Electrosynthesis Company Inc., MicroGenomics Inc., and Argonne National Laboratory, has achieved a significant milestone in developing new methods to manufacture chemicals from renewable resources. The first target chemical, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), has a worldwide market of approximately $600 million. The new production process is more eco-efficient and less expensive than current methods, and its development was supported by a $15.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Advanced Technology Program (ATP).

Key Takeaways:

  • The team developed a new fermentation system that synthesizes ascorbic acid using glucose as the main bulk raw material, reducing capital costs by half compared to the standard Reichstein chemical process.
  • The process combines several enzymatic steps within one production organism, followed by innovative downstream recovery and purification steps, such as electrodialysis.
  • The five-member team, comprising large and small companies, contributed their expertise to the project, which was supported by a $15.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce's ATP.
  • The overall project goal is to develop continuous biocatalytic systems to manufacture chemicals from renewable biomass raw materials like corn.
  • The ATP, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), works with industry through cost-shared projects to develop high-risk industrial technologies with significant economic benefits for the nation.
  • The team expects to commercialize the technology in cooperation with another company and hopes to see it extended to additional commercially valuable chemicals.
  • Eastman Chemical Company contributed its expertise in chemistry and chemical process development to integrate contributions from the various partners.
  • Genencor International brings its expertise in fermentation, pathway engineering, high-performance strains, and development to the team.
  • Electrosynthesis Company's expertise in electrodialysis and electrochemical salt splitting contributes to the success of the downstream recovery and purification of the bulk fermentation products.
  • MicroGenomics Inc. contributed its expertise in discovering new pathways from microorganisms using molecular biology methodologies.
  • Argonne National Laboratory's expertise in genomics, downstream processing, and structure-function analysis of proteins was also integral to the project's success.

Statistics:

  • The worldwide market for ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is approximately $600 million.
  • The new production process reduces capital costs by half compared to the standard Reichstein chemical process.
  • The project received a $15.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce's ATP.
  • Eastman Chemical Company has 1997 sales of $4.68 billion (USD) and was named one of the world's 100 best-managed companies by Industry Week magazine.
  • The team expects to commercialize the technology in cooperation with another company.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire, "Genencor International, Eastman Chemical Company, Electrosynthesis Company Inc., MicroGenomics Inc., and Argonne National Laboratory Achieve Major Milestone in Development of New Methods to Manufacture Chemicals from Renewable Resources" (August 17, 1998)
  • Genencor International Inc.
  • Eastman Chemical Company
  • Electrosynthesis Company, Inc.
  • MicroGenomics inc.
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)