Application of Glyceric Acid to Bio-related Functional Materials and Improvement of Microbial Production

Abstract

Glyceric acid (GA) is an oxidative product of glycerol, and its d-isomer is obtained as a phytochemical from tobacco leaves and fruits of some plants. However, the production and applications of GA have not yet been fully investigated. In this review, recent developments in the microbial production of GA and its application to bio-related materials are summarized. The sodium salt of diacylated GA showed superior surface tension-lowering activity and antitrypsin activity. GA and its glucosyl derivative had positive effects on the viability and collagen production of skin cells in vitro, respectively. Glucosyl derivatives of GA showed protective effects against heat-induced protein aggregation. In addition, the microbial production of GA using raw glycerol as the starting material was investigated. The effect of methanol, a major impurity in raw glycerol, on GA production was investigated, and mutant strains to tolerate methanol in the culture were constructed. Enantioselective production of GA using newly isolated microbial strains has also been developed.

Coproduction of Glyceric Acid and Glycolic Acid from Biomass-Based Sugars over a Ru/Co3O4 Catalyst

“…α-Hydroxyl acids, which contain both hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, are excellent candidates for producing various oxygen-containing chemicals and organic synthesis intermediates. Among lignocellulose-derived α-hydroxyl acids, glycolic acid and glyceric acid have shown immense potential for applications in the pharmaceutical industry, food, cosmetics, and biomedical engineering. − In particular, glycolic acid has been widely employed as a precursor in the synthesis of biodegradable and biocompatible polymer materials . The global market size of glycolic acid has increased to 324 million US dollars in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.55% since 2017.…”

Understanding and Suppressing C–C Cleavage during Glycerol Oxidation for C3 Chemical Production

“…4,14−19 For example, glyceric acid (GLA), one of the C3 products, can be used to produce biobased polymers, surfactants, and skin care products. 4,20,21 Thus, there is a need to rationally control the extent of C−C cleavage during glycerol electro-oxidation in order to target specific compounds.…”

“…Thus, the oxidative upgrading of glycerol to various chemicals (Chart ) has been investigated extensively. − In particular, electrochemical approaches are promising since not only does direct electro-oxidation of glycerol promise to be a greener and more sustainable route for the production of these chemicals but electrochemical approaches also have the advantage of pairing glycerol oxidation as the anode reaction with other useful cathode reactions such as hydrogen evolution or CO 2 reduction. − Many chemicals can be obtained from glycerol oxidation, which either maintain the C3 backbone (Chart , blue) or are C2 products resulting from one oxidative C–C cleavage reaction (Chart , purple) or are C1 products resulting from two oxidative C–C cleavage reactions (Chart , green). Generally, formic acid (FA) is found to be the major product from glycerol electrolysis, especially when non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts are used. ,− While FA is an important industrial chemical that finds use as an animal feed preservative and in the leather and tanning and textiles industries, many of the C2 and C3 products are more valuable (i.e., higher market price) with established or emerging markets. ,− For example, glyceric acid (GLA), one of the C3 products, can be used to produce biobased polymers, surfactants, and skin care products. ,, Thus, there is a need to rationally control the extent of C–C cleavage during glycerol electro-oxidation in order to target specific compounds.…”

Low-Temperature Production of Glyceric Acid from Biomass-Based Sugar via the Cooperative Roles of MgO and NaBF4

“…Up to date, a batch of functionalized organic acids has been obtained from biomass via biological fermentation or chemo-catalysis methods, such as gluconic/glucaric acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, levulinic acid, lactic acid, and glyceric acid . Among these platform chemicals, glyceric acid, an important multifunctional reagent and chemical synthesis intermediate, has been widely applied in food and pharmaceutical manufactures. , Due to the safety of humans’ bodies, increasing attention has also been concentrated on the biological activities of glyceric acid. , The widespread applications of glyceric acid significantly stimulate its manufacture from renewable feedstocks via versatile approaches.…”

“…1 Among these platform chemicals, glyceric acid, an important multifunctional reagent and chemical synthesis intermediate, has been widely applied in food and pharmaceutical manufactures. 2,3 Due to the safety of humans' bodies, increasing attention has also been concentrated on the biological activities of glyceric acid. 2,4 The widespread applications of glyceric acid significantly stimulate its manufacture from renewable feedstocks via versatile approaches.…”