Platform molecule from sustainable raw materials; case study succinic acid

Abstract

Platform molecules were defined by the US Department of Energy, as bio-based or bio-derived chemicals whose constituting elements totally originated from biomass and could be used as building blocks for the production of commodity and refined chemicals. These chemicals can subsequently be converted into a number of high-value bio-based chemicals or materials.Today, there is a growing urge for the discovering of a cheaper and cleaner way for the environment to produce platform molecules from renewable substrate such as carbon. Succinic acid (SA) is considered as a key platform chemical since it is used as a precursor for other valuable chemicals and has aroused interest worldwide with its wide applications. This review aims at highlighting the currently available information about the mechanisms involved in the production of platform molecules, especially the SA production. In this review, the processing technologies used in the production of platform molecules are described, in addition to the information regarding the optimization of key parameters, the mechanisms of genetic engineering and finally the redox potential and purification processes which are known as alternative cost-competitive providers of fossil fuels.

Isolation and screening of microorganisms for high yield of succinic acid production

“…19,20 In addition, pKa values for SA (pKa 1 = 4.61 and pKa 2 = 5.61) were below the suitable pH for growth. 27,28 The weak acidic pH of the fermentation medium increases the proficiency of ATP synthesis in SA-producing microorganisms by activating specific enzymes, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK). 2,8 However, PCK is active for SA production in the presence of high HCO 3 .…”

Hydrolysis of lignocellulose to succinic acid: a review of treatment methods and succinic acid applications

“…The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that fossil feedstocks will decline significantly by about 75% by 2035. The depletion of fossil feedstocks and the strong consumer demand for eco-friendly energy have led governments and the chemical industry to shift to biosynthesis for a sustainable global economy [ 12 ]. Lignocellulose is a potential candidate to replace fossil resources for the synthesis of chemicals, materials and fuels and is the most abundant biomass with an annual production of 220 billion tons [ 13 ].…”

“…Genetic engineering techniques can improve strains at the genetic level to achieve high yields of SA [ 12 ]. Klasson et al [ 47 ] studied the sucrose acid hydrolysis and fermentation yield in industrial sweet sorghum syrup by optimizing the transgenic SA-producing E. coli AFP184 strain.…”

“…After microbial fermentation, the fermentation broth containing organic acids must be separated and purified, and the downstream isolation process needs to be optimized to simplify the isolation and purification process as much as possible so as to reduce isolation costs and improve the recovery and purity of SA. Transgenic strains with customized redox potential balance can also be used to control the redox potential fermentation curve so as to determine the potential bottleneck of strain improvement and achieve the maximum output of various required metabolites [ 12 ]. This is an expensive process covering more than 50% of the total production cost because the broth contains many substances, such as bacteria, salt, protein, and other metabolites [ 90 ].…”

Well Knowledge of the Physiology of Actinobacillus succinogenes to Improve Succinic Acid Production

“…Nowadays, the world is at a critical changeover point as we move ahead into a bio-economy, while simultaneously reducing dependence on finite fossil fuels and leaving behind the petroleum-based economy [7]. According to this scenario, petroleum refineries could be progressively replaced by biorefineries as governments pursued the generation of renewable energy, bio-fuels and bio-derived chemicals [8,9]. The preferable approach for bio-renewable chemicals is the Appl.…”