Bioproduction of high-value chemicals from Seaweeds
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
With a predicted global market of >$2 billion and importance to e.g., textiles, adhesives, plastics industries, 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP) is the world's third most valuable platform chemical. However, current biosynthetic and chemical routes for 3-HP production are too costly or inefficient for industrialscale production. This project aims to develop a cost-effective and low carbon emission microbial biosynthetic route for 3-HP production from algal waste.Molecular genetics will be employed to generate proprietary microbial strains with enhanced bio-3-HP production from abundant metabolites present in farmed macroalgae. Analytical chemistry techniques, e.g. chromatography and mass spectroscopy, will be used to quantify production of this high-value chemical. Growth conditions will be investigated in batch and ultimately in bioreactor settings that optimise bio-3-HP production by the strains generated. Furthermore, a method for 3-HP extraction from the cultured strains will be devised, tested, and optimised.
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/T008717/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2028 | |||
2870117 | Studentship | BB/T008717/1 | 01/10/2023 | 30/09/2027 |