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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CARBAFIN (Carbohydrate-based fine chemicals: Development of a glycosylation platform cell factory and optimization of downstream processing for the sustainable production of glycosides.)

Teaser

Summary

CARBAFIN will develop, based on an integrated biocatalytic production technology, a radically new value chain for the utilisation of surplus sucrose from sugar beet biomass in the EU. CARBAFIN will demonstrate bio-based co-production of a functional glucoside and fructose. The glucoside products of CARBAFIN (glucosylglycerol, cellodextrin) have large-scale uses in nutrition and feed, cosmetics and detergents. Fructose is exploited in the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a versatile chemical building block currently considered for making bio-based plastics. Leading platform technologies in biocatalytic cell factories and downstream processing, conjointly optimised in CARBAFIN for performance efficiency and cost effectiveness under full integration of LCA and economic evaluation, are key to make industrial co-production of glycosides and HMF via fructose competitive in today\'s markets.

Work performed

In the current reporting period, multilevel biocatalyst engineering was applied to boost the synthetic efficiency of cell factories to industrial target values. Protein engineering was used to enhance enzyme substrate affinity for efficient glucosylglycerol production via direct glucosylation from sucrose to glycerol. Co-expression strategies in Escherichia coli provide highly active cell factories for cellobiose and cellodextrin production via a multi-step indirect glucosylation that involves glucose 1-phosphate as the key intermediate. The cell factories already approach target productivities in synthesis. A combined experimental-and-modeling approach was established for the development of biocatalytic cascades for production of cellobiose and cellodextrins. Enzyme and reaction engineering are combined to develop biocatalytic synthesis of soluble cellodextrins at controlled degree of polymerization. Different biocatalysts, including multiple enzymes immobilized on solid carrier, are evaluated. Nanofiltration is assessed as process technology for product downstream processing. Methods of process sustainability assessment and economic evaluation are established.

Final results

In addition, CARBAFIN contributes to the establishment of new, fully renewables-based value chains across the European industries, linking the sugar industry sector to the cosmetics, chemicals, polymer and detergents sectors and strengthening the sugar industries\' role in food and feed. It supports the efficient cascading use of sugar beet-derived sucrose in combination with biomass-derived base chemicals (e.g. glycerol, glucose). CARBAFIN\'s HMF production aims at replacing petroleum-based chemicals with bio-based building blocks. CARBAFIN will thus contribute to the development of a chemical industry that is low-carbon, resource-efficient and sustainable. CARBAFIN will help Europe to maintain global leadership in industrial biotechnology and secure position as innovation leader in sugar-based products. CARBAFIN\'s innovations will involve broadly the engagement of societal actors with particular emphasis on consumer awareness and acceptance.