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Biological Funneling Enables Lignin Valorization to Chemicals

What does it do, how does it work, who is it aimed at?

Biological funneling is the microbial conversion of heterogeneous lignin-derived compounds into single, purified intermediates. The foundation of the process is an engineered aromatic-catabolic microbe that can convert many different lignin-derived aromatic molecules to single intermediates such as muconic acid, which can readily be separated and catalytically converted to adipic acid or terephthalic acid, both large-market commodity chemicals used for polymer production. NREL researchers have coupled strain development and bioreactor cultivation processes to achieve record titers and rates of muconic acid from lignin-derived acids to date. They have also reported production of biodegradable PHA plastics, lactic acid, and will soon report the production of 14 new molecules from aromatic catabolism. Overall the concept of biological funneling will potentially be a cost-effective, viable solution that harnesses synthetic biology for lignin valorization.

Competitively, what gives this technology an edge?

The main challenge in lignin valorization to chemicals is lignin heterogeneity. When breaking lignin down catalytically, the product slate is nearly always a heterogeneous mix of aromatic molecules, making separations and valorization to chemicals nearly impossible to conduct in a cost-effective way except for very high value niche chemicals. The biological funneling process can be applied to many types of lignins and combined with multiple strategies for breaking down lignin, the biological pathways can be engineered to produce different products, and catalysis can subsequently be used to develop an even larger range of valuable molecules. The method provides a critical step forward to commercially viable lignin valorization. Biological funneling has broad potential for manufacturing value-added products from lignin, including engineering plastics and thermoplastic elastomers, polymeric foams and membranes, and a variety of fuels and chemicals all currently sourced from petroleum.

What stage of development is this technology at right now?

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