Synthetic Polyester from Algae Oil

Abstract

Current efforts to technically use microalgae focus on the generation of fuels with a molecular structure identical to crude oil based products. Here we suggest a different approach for the utilization of algae by translating the unique molecular structures of algae oil fatty acids into higher value chemical intermediates and materials. A crude extract from a microalga, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, was obtained as a multicomponent mixture containing amongst others unsaturated fatty acid (16:1, 18:1, and 20:5) phosphocholine triglycerides. Exposure of this crude algae oil to CO and methanol with the known catalyst precursor [{1,2-(tBu 2 PCH 2 ) 2 C 6 H 4 }Pd(OTf)](OTf) resulted in isomerization/ methoxycarbonylation of the unsaturated fatty acids into a mixture of linear 1,17-and 1,19-diesters in high purity (> 99 %). Polycondensation with a mixture of the corresponding diols yielded a novel mixed polyester-17/19.17/19 with an advantageously high melting and crystallization temperature.

Production of chemicals from microalgae lipids – status and perspectives

“…Additionally, alkoxycarbonylation has proven to be quite tolerant toward functional groups. This is an essential feature for reactions with multicomponent mixtures like algae oil .…”

“…An ambitious option from this perspective would be the production of higher value chemicals from algae oil, also taking advantage of the unique lipid compositions. Indeed, schemes to this end are emerging from ongoing research and even in commercial applications.…”

The diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum adjusts nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching capacity in response to dynamic light via fine‐tuned Lhcx and xanthophyll cycle pigment synthesis

“…They participate strongly in the biological carbon pump and the functioning of contemporary aquatic ecosystems (Armbrust, ). Due to their high productivity and high lipid content, diatoms could potentially replace American fossil oil consumption in the future (Levitan et al ., ) or be used for production of high‐quality plastics (Roesle et al ., ). A peculiar feature of diatoms is their ability to live in turbulent waters, where they can benefit from high nutrient availabilities (Tozzi et al ., ).…”

The mission of addition and fission – catalytic functionalization of oleochemicals

“…This developed protocol for isomerizing alkoxycarbonylation proved in many succeeding publications to be a useful tool for the synthesis of linear diesters of different chain length, depending on the applied substrate, as platform chemicals for the production of different polycondensates . As a result of that, subsequent work has been performed towards natural oils as starting material , mechanistic elucidations , and expanding the reaction scope to related transformations, such as alkoxycarbonylation with formates , terpenes as substrates , and aminocarbonylations .…”