Novel Bioprocesses for Biopolymers, Nanoparticles and Biofuels Production

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The main objective of this proposal is to develop novel bioprocesses using renewable raw materials, for the economic production of commercially important biopolymers, nanoparticles and biofuels. 1. Biopolymers. Microbial biopolymers are non-toxic biodegradable polymers, derived from renewable raw materials. They are carbon neutral and environmentally sustainable. The objective of this project is to minimize the total cost of biopolymer production by developing novel bioprocesses which use renewable raw materials and low-cost product purification. The biopolymers gamma-polyglutamic acid and bacterial cellulose will be investigated using specific bacterial cultures in a controlled bioreactor system to achieve optimal cell growth and maximum biopolymer production. Both biopolymers are biocompatible and have unique physical and mechanical properties. This combination of physicochemical properties makes them ideally suited for applications in the biopharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. 2. Nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery. Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging technology which has a profound influence on the development of natural sciences and engineering. The interaction of Nanotechnology and Biotechnology plays an important role in the development of new industrial processes and products. Biopolymer nanoparticles are used in drug delivery systems, which offer excellent biocompatibility and minimize the side effects, compared to the conventional, freely delivered drug systems. Biopolymer nanoparticles have excellent potential for clinical applications in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Two drugs will be investigated for encapsulation in biopolymer nanoparticles, the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, and erythropoietin used for red blood cell production. 3. Biobutanol biofuel. Biobutanol is a biofuel, derived from non-food plant materials such as agricultural and forestry wastes. The fuel value of biobutanol is 93% of gasoline. It is easy to transport using current distribution systems in oil-refineries to produce gasoline-butanol mixtures. Corn cobs and non-food grade sugars from the plant jerusalem artichoke will be used for the production of biobutanol using a novel bioreactor system with fermenting bacteria. The ultimate objective is to minimize the cost of biobutanol production. 4. Biodegradation of naphthenic acids. The Athabasca tar sands deposits in Northern Alberta are of strategic importance to the Canadian economy, as an important source of crude oil. One the main challenges for crude oil extraction from the tar sands is the generation of large volumes of waste waters, stored in tailing ponds. A major pollutant is naphthenic acids (NA), which are difficult to treat and highly toxic to humans and aquatic life. A novel fibrous bioreactor system will be used for the biodegradation of NA present in industrial waste waters, using native bacterial cultures from the tailing ponds. The main objective is to develop a novel bioprocess for biodegradation of NA, which can also be applied in oil refineries that process crude oil from Athabasca tar sands.