Genomatica and Braskem announce they have been successfully producing butadiene at lab scale since June 2015 using their direct, bio-based process. The companies are jointly developing a commercial process for the on-purpose production of butadiene made from renewable feedstocks, announced in December 2013. Butadiene is a raw material used in the production of rubber for tires, electrical appliances, footwear, plastics, asphalt, building materials and latex. By producing a renewable butadiene, everyday products made with it can become more sustainable, according to the companies.
Program results reportedly include:
- Direct, continuous production: The program team has successfully developed a microorganism that consumes sugar and converts it to butadiene at lab scale, in two-liter fermenters. Butadiene has been produced, collected and measured continuously, over the course of multiple days for each fermentation.
- Development of multiple direct pathways and novel enzymes: To develop an optimal process, Genomatica used its computational tools to figure out every possible way that a microorganism could theoretically make butadiene, and identified 60 potential biological pathways. The five best were selected for experimental validation.
"Our joint team has made good use of Genomatica's integrated bioengineering platform, including its computational techniques and high-throughput cloning and screening, to quickly hit a key milestone," says Nelson Barton, senior vice president R&D, Genomatica. "Our 'rational' approach to strain design should enable faster, more predictable scale-up and better economics as we advance the program."
For more information, visit: www.genomatica.com
