Clostridial on purpose acetone (COPA)

全球对丙酮的需求量很大，丙酮被用作溶剂，用于生产重要的化学品和材料，包括透明塑料，如甲基丙烯酸甲酯（MMA）。丙酮目前是通过石化产品丙烯和苯的反应生产的，因此其价格不稳定，而且生产过程不可持续。GBL是梭状菌（非致病性）发酵生产溶剂正丁醇的专家，它会产生一些丙酮作为副产物。我们（GBL和mma生产商Lucite）在InnovateUK进行了一项商业研究，以调查单一丙酮生产工艺的潜力，并确定这在经济和技术上都是可行的。我们希望利用我们在梭菌生物学方面的专业知识来开发一种具有高丙酮产量的梭菌菌株，这是商业过程所必需的。Lucite将探索有关使用生物丙酮生产生物mma的问题。

There is large global demand for acetone for use as a solvent and in production of important chemicals and materials including transparent plastics such as methyl methacrylate (MMA). Acetone is currently produced by reacting petro-chemicals propylene and benzene, hence its price is volatile and the process is unsustainable. GBL are experts in clostridial (non-pathogenic) fermentation for production of the solvent n-butanol, which generates some acetone as a co-product. We (GBL and MMA-producer Lucite) undertook an InnovateUK business study to investigate potential for a process making solely acetone, and determined that this would be economically and technologically feasible. We want to use our expertise in clostridial biology to develop a strain of clostridia having high yield of acetone, necessary for the commercial process. Lucite will explore matters relating to use of bio-acetone for bio-MMA production.