Biotechnology white

THOMAS HAAS, MANFRED KIRCHER, TIM KOHLER, GUNTER WICH, = ULRICH SCHORKEN AND RAINER HAGEN  

The relevance of White Biotechnology is well documented. OECD, the Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Science, Dechema as well as US-NREL and US-DOE, outlined White Biotechnology s innovative power and future potential. The worldwide volume of white biotech production sums up to an estimated 50 billion - close to biotech s pharma product volume of 55 billion.  

All biotechnological processes depend on enzymes - either in whole-cell living systems or isolated out of their biological context. In fact, purified enzymes are established in processing food and textiles and are supplements in feed and detergents - all products of everybody s daily life. Whole-cell systems particularly in the field of specialty chemicals provide a broad range of methods and processes. For many years, enantiomerically pure amino acids for food, feed and pharma industries have been produced by microbial fermentation. Ambitious R D resulted in enzymes especially modified and optimized for a desired chemical reaction such as biocatalysis of optically active amines, alcohols, epoxides and more.  

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Nevertheless, there are several hurdles to overcome. Biotransformation has to compete with a chemical production process. The production of bio-based bulk chemicals and intermediates from white biotechnology must be economically viabile [67]. This means that the biotechnological product must be cheaper to produce or of higher quality than products based on classical chemical routes. And, incidentally, switching to a novel process takes time and money. Therefore, process solutions are required which are adapted to the special needs of biocatalyzed reactions. Within this chapter, several specific tasks have been addressed, illustrating universal possibilities to overcome the limitations found in bioprocesses. 

Hermann, B.G. and Patel, M. (2007) Today s and tomorrow s bio-based bulk chemicals from white biotechnology. 

White Biotechnology Gateway to a More Sustainable Future, 2003 www.europabio.org... 

DECHEMA (2004) (ed) White biotechnology opportunities for Germany. Position paper DECHEMA, Frankfurt... 

Biocatalysis Creen Chemistry Meets White Biotechnology IS... 

Biocatalysis Green Chemistry Meets White Biotechnology... 

Biocatalysis is a main part of white biotechnology and in combination with the usage of renewable primary products should lead to a more sustainable chemical and pharmaceutical industry. 

In Europe, the bio-industries are associated in EuropaBio. This organization submitted in 2003 six studies within "White Biotechnology" to a number of independent peer reviewers. All studies of processes making use of microorganisms and enzymes in producing industrial antibiotics, vitamins, detergents, bioplastics, and fibers (Figure 16.5) seemed to save... 

The application of whole cells and isolated enzymes in the chemical industry is advancing rapidly, andmany companies areinvesting in so-called white biotechnology. That said, most of the biocatalytic processes are aimed at new compounds which are difficult to synthesize by conventional chemical routes. Replacing an existing chemical process with a biocatalytic route is trickier, because the new process must deliver the same quality of product (or better), at a lower overall cost. The existing process has an advantage here, since its capital costs are already repaid. Thus, in order... 

Industrial (white) biotechnology is rapidly gaining momentum as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly technology for producing bio-based chemicals, materials, and fuels in a safe and sustainable way from renewable resources. 

Dekker, P., van der Hoeven, R., Edens, L., and de Lange, L. 2002, Patent WO 02/45524 DSM Position Document, Industrial (White) Biotechnology An Effective Route to Increase EU Innovation and Sustainable Growth, 2004 Edens, L., van der Hoeven, R., and Delest, V. 2002A, Patent WO-02/45523 Edens, L., and Lopez, M. 2002B, Patent WO-02/46381... 

The major market for membrane bioreactors is represented by wastewater treatment with the use of submerged modules configuration. These are considered among the best available technologies by the European Directives on Environment. Membrane bioreactors are also applied in food, red and white biotechnology. In these cases, the external loop configuration is used. 

BREW, Medium and Long-Term Opportunities and Risks of the Biotechnological Production of Bulk Chemicals From Renewable Resources - The Potential of White Biotechnology, the BREW Project. Final report, 2006. 

Drepper, T., Eggert, T., Hummel, W., Leggewie, C., Pohl, M., Rosenau, R, Wilhelm, S., and Karl-Erich Jaeger, E. 2006. Novel biocatalysts for white biotechnology. Biotechnology Journal, 1 777-86. 

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