1,3-Propanediol, environmentally

The shift from bio-based specialties to commodities is already visible in the marketplace with biopolymers made from corn. The first example is NatureWorks from Cargill, which is made from corn sugar-derived lactic acid. As in the biochemicals examples described above, the environmental benefits are eye-opening NatureWorks already requires 25 to 55 percent less fossil resources, and it is planned to replace fossil resources completely in the next four to six years (Euro-paBio and McKinsey Company, 2003). Other high-potential biomaterials are a polymer based on 1,3-propanediol from DuPont and Genencor (Sorona ) and... 

Chemical routes to polypropylene terephthalate-based fibers, which we have branded Sorona, use hazardous chemicals such as ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide and are subject to the environmental problems of a typical chemical process (Figure 7). We undertook the enormous challenge of producing 1,3-propanediol (3G) from glucose in one step as shown in Figure 8. 

Oude Elferink, S. J., Krooneman, J., Gottschal, J. C. S. S. R, Faber, F. D. F. (2001). Anaerobic conversion of lactic acid to acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol by Lactobacillus buchneri. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 67, 125-131. 

Tong, L.-T., Liao, H. H., Cameron, D. C. (1991). 1,3-Propanediol production by Escherichia coli expression genes from the Klebsiella pneumonia dha regulon. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 57, 3541-3546. 

Propylene glycol (1,2-propanediol) is used as an environmentally friendly engine coolant because it is biodegradable, has a high boiling point, and is miscible with water. 

Saha BC, Bothast RJ (1999) Production of 2,3-butanediol by newly isolated Enterobacter cloacae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 52 321-326 Saint-Amans S, Perlot P, Goma G, Soucaille P (1994) High production of 1,3-propanediol from glycerol by Clostridium butyricum VPI 3266 in a simply controlled fed-batch system. Biotechnol Lett 16 831-836 Sanchez-Riera F, Cameron DC, Cooney CL (1987) Influence of environmental factors in the production of R(-)-1,2-propanediol by Clostridium thermosac-charolyticum. Biotechnol Lett 9 449-454... 

One of the first biobased products being commercialized exemplifying the promise of combining metabolic engineering with advanced process design to achieve a sustainable product with superior properties at a low cost is biobased 1,3-propanediol (PDO). Because biobased PDO is not yet produced in commercial quantities, this is a good time to take early measure of how well die biobased pathway meets the objectives of sustainable and environmentally benign production. 

Altaras, N.E., Cameron, D.C., 1999. Metabolic engineering of a 1,2-propanediol pathway in Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 65,1180-1185. 

Cortright, R.D., Sanchez-CastiUo, M., Dumesic, J.A., 2002. Conversion of biomass to 1,2-propanediol by selective catalytic hydrogenation of lactic acid over silicasupported copper. Applied Catalysis B Environmental 39,353-359. 

Gonzalez-Pajuelo, M., Meynial-SaUes, I., Mendes, E, et al., 2006. Microbial conversion of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol physiological comparison of a natural producer, Clostridium hutyricum VPI 3266, and an engineered strain, Clostridium acetobutylicum DGl(pSPD5). Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72, 96-101. 

Huang, K.X., Rudolph, F.B., Bennett, G.N., 1999. Characterization of methylglyoxal synthase from Clostridium aceto-butylicum ATCC 824 and its use in the formation of 1,2-propanediol. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 65,3244-3247. 

The use of petroleum based non-renewable resources is becoming expensive economically and environmentally. To advance society, we must find cleaner forms of energy and raw materials. Taking advantage of renewable resomces will ensure a sustainable supply of fuel and raw materials, and will minimize damage to the environment. Materials such as glycerol, 1,3-propanediol, and a-... 

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