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Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH
By integrating CO2 more effectively, Professor Elke Nevoigt and her team developed a process that makes production of succinic acid more economical.
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For enhancing flavors, the production of dyes, pharmaceutical products and bio polyesters - succinic acid is a versatile platform chemical. A team led by Elke Nevoigt, Professor of Molecular Biotechnology at Jacobs University Bremen, has developed an economically and ecologically attractive process for the production of succinic acid by more effectively incorporating carbon dioxide (CO2). The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the project for another three years.
A large number of products in the chemical industry are based on fossil raw materials such as oil, gas or coal. Researchers are currently exploring alternatives made from renewable carbon sources and plant waste streams. This also applies to the production of succinic acid. It has been obtained from petroleum, but also by fermentation from starch and sugar.
Nevoigt uses glycerol as an alternative carbon source. She has been researching this byproduct of biodiesel production for more than a decade. "It's exciting because glycerol has a high electron density," the scientist explained. "Compared with sugars, you therefore get a higher yield of succinic acid per carbon used."
In the microbial production process of succinic acid, her research group, in collaboration with TU Delft in the Netherlands, also uses the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. "Glycerol consists of three carbon atoms, CO2 of one. In total, we end up with the four carbon atoms in the succinic acid we want to produce," Nevoigt explained. The advantage of this process is its energy efficiency and environmental impact. With glycerol as a raw material, not only more succinic acid can be produced compared to sugars, but also more carbon dioxide can be fixed at the same time.
In an extended research approach, Nevoigt uses the advantages that baker's yeast brings to the succinic acid production process. For example, compared to bacteria, yeast is more resistant to low pH values, which makes the production process more stable and, above all, more cost-effective. The working group is now conducting research to further optimize the process. The yeast cells should produce even more succinic acid from glycerol. "Improving the cell's energy balance would allow more carbon to be incorporated into the target product, succinic acid," Nevoigt said.
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Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are, by definition, esters formed from hydroxycinnamic acids and quinic acid. As such, they are produced by almost all plant species as secondary metabolites. In our diet, we take up substantial amounts of this class of compounds – around 1 g per day, in extreme cas ... more
Nikolai Kuhnert, born in 1967, studied Chemistry at Würzburg University (Germany) and earned his PhD in 1995 in the field of Inorganic Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Biology. After holding further positions in England (Cambridge, Oxford and Guildford), he has been working as Professor of Anal ... more
Sabur Badmos, born in 1977, studied Biochemistry at the Universities of Lagos and Ibadan in Nigeria. He completed his PhD at Jacobs University Bremen (Germany) as a member of the working group led by Nikolai Kuhnert. His research interests lie in the field of analytical chemistry, with a pa ... more
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