2-ZYME: Two-step biocatalytic conversion of underused biorefinery side-streams to glucaric acid

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The 2-ZYME technology applies the selectivity of bio-catalytic conversions to transform underused biomass fractions of major bioresource sectors into sought-after biochemicals. By leveraging natural structures in underused biomass, the 2-ZYME technology increases bioresource efficiency while diversifying the product portfolio of existing biorefineries.The technology combines two enzymes in one pot to produce glucaric acid from glucuronoxylans an underused fraction of wood and agricultural biorefineries making cellulose pulps and bioethanol, respectively. Glucaric acid is a platform chemical that serves as a key building block for biopolymer synthesis, and is also used as such in phosphate-free detergents along with de-icing agents. The global glucaric acid market size was estimated at USD 550.4 million in 2016 with a projected cumulative average growth rate (CAGR) of 7% during the 2018-2023 period. Advantages of the 2-ZYME technology over the conventional approach to producing glucaric acid include high product purity and yield, and low feedstock costs.A recently completed NSERC I2I Market Assessment of the 2-ZYME technology confirmed the market readiness for this new enzyme system. The current NSERC I2I Phase I project will focus on three specific tasks needed to secure private sector investment: 1) detailed compositional analysis of underused biomass streams produced by existing biorefineries to inform deployment efforts, 2) application of the 2-ZYME technology to the prioritized glucuronoxylan sources, and 3) prove out lab scale-up of the 2-ZYME technology including product recovery.To achieve the project goals, the proposed action assembles committed industrial partners, including feedstock providers (Fortress Advanced Bioproducts, IGPC Ethanol), biotechnology developers (Novozymes), and market experts (Pansophy Consulting), to create a focused academic-industry partnership that is motivated and fully equipped to realize the economic potential and environmental benefits of the 2-ZYME technology.