Editorial pubs.acs.org/OPRD
Special Feature Biocatalysis: The Green Factor
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(5) ExxonMobil started a $600M research programme in collaboration with Craig Venter’s Synthetic Genomics aimed at creating super algal strains for more efficient bioproduction processes (biorefinery, omga-3-fatty acids, specialty fuels, and neutraceuticals). (6) In 2013, UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council announced that it will invest $55M in two programmes aimed at developing industrial processes for generating bioenergy and biobased materials. This is the fourth Special Feature on Biocatalysis in Organic Process Research & Development to which I have the privilege of contributing as a guest editor, alongside our Editor-in-Chief Trevor Laird, and Sue Parsons of Scientific Update. The previous three special issues were hugely successful and include the 2002 issue (25 papers), 2006 (19 papers), and 2011 (19 papers). The 2014 special issue (10 papers) features many distinguished colleagues and international experts from both industry and academia. The topics covered include (1) the use of biocatalysts (isolated/immobilized enzymes, whole cells) for production of small molecules, peptides, chiral intermediates, and/or natural products, and (2) chemo-enzymatic or fermentation-based processes for industrial biotech applications (biofuels, specialty chemicals, flavour and fragrances, cosmoceuticals and/or nutraceuticals). I wish you an enjoyable read and thank all of the contributors for their participation. Until next time...
n the past decade, enzymes, proteins, and microorganisms have steadily played an important role in pharmaceutical (red biotech), chemical (white biotech), cosmoceutical, and neutraceutical sectors as “green” cost saving alternatives to the often “environmentally unfriendly” chemical steps used in manufacturing. Notable large-scale examples include: (1) vitamin-C (water-soluble vitamin, Eastman/Genencor using recombinant organisms), (2) Serona (1,3-propanediol obtained via a fermentation process, DuPont/Genencor), (3) industrial enzymes (recombinant proteases for the detergent industry, Savinase by Novozymes; Purafect by Genencor), (4) polylactic acid via fermentation (Cargill Dow, biodegradable “all natural” plastic for packaging and fibers), (5) high fructose corn syrup (via glucose isomerase by Genencor/Novozymes), (6) fine chemicals (6-aminopenecillic acid via Pen-G-acylase by DSM), (7) Lipitor intermediate R-3-hydroxy-4-cyanobutyrate (via nitrilase, Codexis, Diversa), (8) Epivir (anti-HIV, GSK, via cytidine deaminase, multikilogram production), (9) Relenza (antiflu, GSK, via neuraminidase, multitonne scale), (10) Abacavir (anti-HIV, GSK, enzymic resolution), and (11) therapeutic proteins (Humulin, recombinant insulin by Eli Lilly; Epogen, anemia by Amgen). The biofuel sector has also seen a tremendous growth activity in recent years. Notable examples include the following: (1) Novozymes’ 2013 agreement to purchase the industrials business of Canada’s Iogen for $69M. Iogen kept its advanced biofuel business and struck a deal with the Brazilian sugar cane ethanol producer Raizen Group to build a cellulosic ethanol plant. (2) SG Biofuels (San Diego) signed agreements in 2013 with Embrapa (the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) and Fiagril (a Brazilian biodiesel refiner) to develop jatropha as a next-generation energy crop. The Embrapa partnership will combine SG’s breeding and genomic platform with domestic efforts to increase agricultural productivity in Brazil. (3) Solazyme (San Francisco) uses algal fermentation to convert biomass directly into oil and ingredients for consumer products including food and antiwrinkle creams. In 2013, Solazyme announced an agreement with AkzoNobel targeting the development of advanced tailored triglyceride oils with the focus on supply for its Surface Chemistry and Decorative Paints businesses. (4) Florida-based Algenol produces ethanol and green chemicals using algae, sunlight, CO2, and seawater. The company is expanding its operations in converting ethanol into jet fuel, plastic monomers, and biodiesel. Algenol is working with Dow Chemical to build a demonstration-scale plant at Dow’s site in Freeport, Texas. The facility will comprise 3100 algae cultivating bioreactors, which are expected to produce 100,000 gallons of ethanol per year. Algenol and Dow were awarded $25M grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the project. © XXXX American Chemical Society
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Mahmoud Mahmoudian, Member of the Editorial Advisory Board AUTHOR INFORMATION
Notes
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.
Special Issue: Biocatalysis 14
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dx.doi.org/10.1021/op500140x | Org. Process Res. Dev. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
