Agile BioFoundry and ABPDU scale up ethanol intro consumer products with Industrial Microbes

In Washington, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Agile BioFoundry (ABF) and Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU), have successfully scaled up a bio-based process that converts ethanol into a valuable precursor for consumer products, such as paints, coatings, and diapers. The researchers worked with industry partner, Industrial Microbes, to develop the process.

The scaled up process produces poly(3-hydroxypropionate) or P3HP, a precursor to acrylic acid, widely used across the consumer product industry. Though acrylic acid is typically sourced from petroleum, Industrial Microbes is developing a sustainable, bio-based process for producing it. The company sought the expertise and equipment available at the ABF and ABPDU to help them scale up their process.