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Microbial production of propanol.
Thomas Walther1, Jean Marie François2
1Université de Toulouse, INSA, UPS, INP, LISBP, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse, France; INRA, UMR792 Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, 31400 Toulouse, France; CNRS, UMR5504, 31400 Toulouse, France; Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB) Center, 3 rue Ariane, Canal Biotech Building 2, 31520 Ramonville - St. Agne, France.
Biotechnology Advances
|June 6, 2016
Summary
Microbial production of n-propanol and isopropanol from renewable resources shows promise for biofuels and chemical synthesis. However, current yields and productivities need improvement for industrial competitiveness.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Metabolic Engineering
- Industrial Microbiology
Background:
- n-Propanol and isopropanol are valuable chemicals with potential applications as biofuels or precursors for propylene synthesis.
- Microbial production offers a sustainable route from renewable resources, aligning with green chemistry principles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss recent advancements in the biochemical production of propanols.
- To highlight progress in synthetic pathway development, host organism engineering, and fermentation optimization.
Main Methods:
- Development and expression of various synthetic propanol-producing pathways in different microbial hosts.
- Utilization of diverse renewable feedstocks for propanol biosynthesis.
- Optimization of fermentation conditions, including continuous product removal to mitigate toxicity.
Main Results:
- Successful implementation of multiple synthetic pathways enabling propanol production from renewable sources.
- Demonstrated improvement in process performance through optimized fermentation strategies.
- Identified limitations in current propanol yields and productivities compared to chemical synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Significant progress has been made in metabolic engineering and fermentation for microbial propanol production.
- Further research is needed to enhance propanol yields, increase microbial tolerance, and utilize low-cost feedstocks for industrial viability.
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