Bioplastic polymers based on aromatic dicarboxylic acids derived from lignin
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry
Abstract
Aromatic chemicals are crucial in bioplastics to convey functionality, including strength and flexibility. Currently, these aromatic chemicals can only be sourced from fossil based inputs, limiting applications, increasing the cost and environmental impact. Lignin, the 2nd most abundant organic polymer in plants, is one of the few potential natural sources of aromatic chemicals. Building on a successful feasibility study that proved that the aromatic diacids inherent within lignin could be extracted and substituted in polyester based plastics, this project aims to demonstrate that these metabolites can be produced in a commercially viable manner by the innovative use of modified bacteria to selectively control lignin disintegration when matched with novel chemical processes in scalable batch/continuous reactors. Larger trials will convert the resultant kg quantities of diacids into novel block copolyesters, for evaluation in a high value global bioplastics market of value >£150m.
Planned Impact
"As described in proposal submitted to TSB"
People |
ORCID iD |
| Andrew Blacker (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Chapman M
(2018)
Highly Productive Oxidative Biocatalysis in Continuous Flow by Enhancing the Aqueous Equilibrium Solubility of Oxygen
in Angewandte Chemie
Holt CA
(2020)
High-Throughput Analysis of Lignin by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis.
in Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
| Description | A continuous flow process to produce kilograms of DFF and FDCA from lignin and metabolic precursors has been developed and scaled-up. This has involved a new reactor design used with multiple enzymes based on the procedure we published in doi.org/10.1002/anie.201803675. |
| Exploitation Route | The processes being developed at Leeds are being adopted by collaborators at University of Manchester and in industry.. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | GCRF |
| Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S011439/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 01/2022 |
| Description | Open Innovation |
| Amount | £805,830 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IUK 104391 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | Scale-up and commercial evaluation of the manufacture of bio-based FDCA from HMF |
| Amount | £837,055 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 103760 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Title | Laboratory scale continuous flow stirred tank reactors |
| Description | The ability to carry out continuous flow reactions in the laboratory with multi-phasic systems has been limited. A new magnetically stirred reactor (CSTR) with 2mL volume has been developed partly as a result of the chiral amine project. The Freactor is a multi-stage or cascade CSTR able to use and make mixtures of solids-gases and liquids to do chemical reactions that are useful in developing production processes. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The Freactor is being used by more than a dozen other chemical labs in academia and industry, enabling them to evaluate reactions that were hitherto not possible. Talks are on-going with an equipment supplier to exploit this system and make it more widely available. |
| URL | http://www.iprd.leeds.ac.uk/test/freactors.html |
| Description | Centre for Doctoral Training in Bioenergy |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Providing laboratory space and participating in CDT Bioenergy events. Involving a company sponsor (Biome Ltd) directly supporting part of the costs of the studentship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Leeds have contributed a PhD studentship working in support of the Lignin project. Biome Ltd have contributed cash and in-kind support to the studentship |
| Impact | No outputs yet Multi-disciplinary involving biology, chemistry and chemical engineering |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training: Molecule to Product |
| Organisation | Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Molecule to product CDT, about to start and run by the University of Leeds, is establishing collaborations with international institutions to both host PhD students, to enhance their training, establish research links, and to invite their experts to provide workshop training in Leeds. In this regard we are taking steps at establishing a formal arrangement where our collaborators at Mendeleev University can provide expertise in modelling and simulation that will continue to develop the research we have already started through the British Council Award, and also to deliver expert lectures and workshop to train PhD students in aspects of multi-scale modelling. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We are taking steps at establishing a formal arrangement where our collaborators at Mendeleev University can provide expertise in modelling and simulation that will continue to develop the research we have already started through the British Council Award, and also to deliver expert lectures and workshop to train PhD students in aspects of multi-scale modelling. |
| Impact | Not yet, too early |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Title | PROCESS FOR OXIDISING A SUBSTRATE |
| Description | A process for oxidising a substrate selected from hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diformylfuran (DFF), hydroxymethylfurancarboxylic acid (HMFCA) and formylfurancarboxylic acid (FFCA). Said process comprises mixing said substrate with catalase, one or more further enzymes and hydrogen peroxide to form a reaction mixture. Said one or more further enzymes have the ability to catalyse oxidation of said substrate. Said hydrogen peroxide is provided at a total molar ratio of at least about 0.1:1 hydrogen peroxide to substrate. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | It is too early for impacts to have arisen from this work |
| Description | Continuous Flow Technology IV Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The project PI presented research at the 3 day conference some of which that relates to work carried out under the Institutional Links with Russia project. The audience of over 120 participants had both industry, academic and some media participants, making wide dissemination of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.soci.org |