A modular synthetic biology pipeline for the engineering of next generation sustainable and bioactive dyes

Critical for the success of any brand in the Textile industry is the dyeing process with a requirement for colours to demonstrate uniformity, resistance and economic viability. These requirements however come at a significant environmental and societal cost with the industry globally recognised as one of the most environmentally polluting Industrial processes, consuming \> 1.3 million tons of dyes and pigments p.a, the most common of which are synthetic azo dyes derived from petrochemical sources. These dyes are however highly toxic and bioaccumulative with some 200K tons lost annually in effluent, most escaping conventional wastewater treatment with textile dyeing accounting for over 20% of global industrial water pollution The industry is also one of the largest industrial water consumers with over 5.8 trillion litres of water consumed p.a.

Failed attempts to ban certain Azo dyes and control the release of toxic wastewaters, have placed significant pressure on the Textile industry for alternative dyeing methods as part of a global consumer and increasing regulatory demand for greater sustainability in production techniques. As a result, the market has seen a flux of 'natural dyes' growing rapidly in the $9.8 billion/year dye market. However, such dyes are rarely 'low-impact' often using mordants to "fix" colour onto the fabric and still consuming large quantities of water.

Based on advancements in synthetic biology, Colorifix offer an ecological and sustainable alternative to conventional dyeing techniques by converting low-cost commonly available agricultural by-products such as sugar molasses into high-value pigments and dyed textiles. All of this can be done without any acids, heavy metals or solvents as required in conventional dyeing. The Colorifix process also uses 10 times less water and up to 80% less energy.

With significant brand interest secured, and with Innovate UK support, Colorifix aim to deliver 18-month programme of Industrial Research in collaboration with the Earlham Institute to investigate the potential to scale production using industrial_Pseudomonas_ species as a replacement for traditional_Escherichia coli_ -_Pseudomona__s_ offering a metabolically versatile bacterium and an exceptional host for the expression of complex natural products but limited in its inability to degrade sucrose-based renewable feedstocks. These activities will enable Colorifix to truly scale the process and capitalise upon the Global market opportunity available. The arising knowledge also add significant value and open new opportunities to manufacture antiviral and antimicrobial dyes due to the reported therapeutic potential of anthraquinones.