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One-Pot Biosynthesis of Acetone from Waste Poly(hydroxybutyrate)
Benjamín O Armijo-Galdames1, Joanna C Sadler1
1Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Roger Land Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, U.K.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
|May 24, 2024
Summary
This study demonstrates the microbial recycling of poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) plastic waste into acetone using engineered E. coli. This innovation offers a sustainable method for converting plastic waste into valuable chemicals for the circular bioeconomy.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Environmental Science
- Polymer Science and Engineering
Background:
- The global plastic waste crisis necessitates sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.
- Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable bioplastic derived from renewable resources, offering a promising alternative.
- Understanding the environmental impact and microbial degradation of PHB is crucial for its widespread adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of PHB as a feedstock for microbial recycling into valuable chemicals.
- To develop a one-pot biological process for converting PHB waste into acetone.
- To establish a novel pathway for utilizing plastic waste in the circular bioeconomy.
Main Methods:
- Engineered a strain of *Escherichia coli* for the degradation and conversion of PHB.
- Optimized fermentation conditions for maximizing acetone production from PHB.
- Demonstrated the biorecycling of both commercial PHB granules and post-consumer PHB waste.
Main Results:
- Achieved maximum acetone titers of 123 mM (7 g/L) from commercial PHB within 24 hours at 30 °C.
- Successfully demonstrated preparative-scale biorecycling of authentic post-consumer PHB waste.
- Established a one-pot degradation and recycling process using a single engineered microbial strain.
Conclusions:
- Poly(hydroxybutyrate) plastic waste can be effectively recycled into acetone using engineered microorganisms.
- This process represents the first biological recycling of PHB into a second-generation chemical.
- The findings highlight the potential of next-generation plastic waste as a novel feedstock for a circular bioeconomy.
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