Scale-Up and Optimization of Biotechnological Production of Renewable Glycolic Acid

可再生乙醇酸生物技术生产的放大和优化

• 批准号: 568679-2021
• 负责人: Sheikhzadeh, Mehdi
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=722961
• 关键词: Scale; Up; Optimization; Biotechnological; Production

Phycus Biotechnologies Inc. is a Markham, Ontario based company that has developed a unique fermentation process for production of glycolic acid. Specifically, Phycus uses a microbial process to produce glycolic acid that is 100% biobased. Through fermentation, Phycus' proprietary microbe converts plant-based feedstock to glycolic acid, which is an alternative approach compared to conventional glycolic acid production that uses non-renewable formaldehyde as the starting material. Presently, Phycus' glycolic acid product, Purolic AcidTM, is sold as a 70% cosmetic grade solution. Phycus not only brings an alternative to fossil sources, but also helps reduce the carbon footprint because the product starts as carbon dioxide derived from the atmosphere. Phycus has made additional genetic modifications to its glycolic acid producing strain, altering the genes that control the cells' energy metabolism and certain degradation pathways. In collaboration with Lambton College, Phycus seeks to scale-up their fermentation and downstream processes needed for large-scale manufacturing of glycolic acid. Through access to Lambton College's bioreactors and related microbiology analysis and propagation equipment, this project will focus on downstream processing of fermentation products and chromatography systems for quantification of glycolic acid. The success of this project will allow Phycus to improve productivity of their process at pre-commerical scale and further support design changes for a commercial scale facility. This increased productivity and yield improvements will drive down Phycus' captialcosts and increase their profit margins, allowing them to create new jobs and grow their team. In addition, this project will support the training of several Lambton College staff and students in a growing sector of the economy. The successful commercialization of a biobased glycolic acid not only provides a substitute for fossil fuels, but it will also help reduce the carbon footprint of cosmetic companies.

菲库斯生物技术公司是一家总部位于安大略省马卡姆的公司，该公司开发了一种生产乙醇酸的独特发酵工艺。具体地说，Phycus使用微生物过程来生产100%以生物为基础的乙醇酸。通过发酵，Phycus的专利微生物将植物性原料转化为乙醇酸，与使用不可再生甲醛作为原料的传统乙醇酸生产相比，这是一种替代方法。目前，菲库斯的乙醇酸产品普鲁酸TM作为70%的化妆品级溶液出售。Phycus不仅带来了化石来源的替代，而且还有助于减少碳足迹，因为该产品最初是从大气中提取的二氧化碳。Phycus对其生产乙醇酸的菌株进行了额外的基因改造，改变了控制细胞能量代谢和某些降解途径的基因。在与兰伯顿学院的合作中，Phycus寻求扩大他们的发酵和下游工艺，这是大规模生产乙醇酸所需的。通过使用兰伯顿学院的生物反应器和相关的微生物分析和繁殖设备，该项目将专注于发酵产品的下游加工和乙醇酸定量的层析系统。该项目的成功将使Phycus能够在商业前规模提高其流程的生产率，并进一步支持商业规模设施的设计更改。这种生产率的提高和产量的提高将降低Phycus的资本成本，提高他们的利润率，使他们能够创造新的就业机会，壮大他们的团队。此外，该项目将支持兰布顿学院的几名教职员工和学生在不断增长的经济部门中的培训。生物基乙醇酸的成功商业化不仅提供了化石燃料的替代品，还将有助于减少化妆品公司的碳足迹。