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Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
11.2K
Exploring yeast biodiversity and process conditions for optimizing ethylene glycol conversion into glycolic acid
Vittorio Giorgio Senatore1, Riccardo Milanesi1, Fiorella Masotti1
1Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy.
FEMS Yeast Research
|August 6, 2024
Summary
Yeasts can convert ethylene glycol (EG), a plastic byproduct, into valuable glycolic acid (GA). This study optimized yeast strains for efficient GA production, paving the way for plastic waste upcycling.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Plastic waste, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poses a significant environmental challenge due to low recycling rates.
- Ethylene glycol (EG) is a key monomer released during PET biorecycling, with limited established metabolic pathways in common laboratory yeasts.
- Current research primarily focuses on bacterial metabolism of EG, leaving yeast-based bioconversion underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other yeast species to consume ethylene glycol (EG).
- To identify yeast strains that can efficiently produce glycolic acid (GA) as a valuable by-product from EG.
- To optimize the bioconversion process for enhanced GA production for potential plastic waste upcycling.
Main Methods:
- Screening of ten common laboratory yeast species for EG consumption and GA production.
- Optimization of a two-step bioconversion process of EG to GA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a design of experiment approach.
- Bioreactor fermentation of selected yeast strains, including Scheffersomyces stipitis, for high-titer GA production.
Main Results:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae demonstrated the ability to consume EG and produce GA, with optimized conditions yielding 4.51 g/L GA.
- Screening identified Scheffersomyces stipitis as a superior GA producer, achieving 23.79 g/L in a single-step bioprocess.
- High conversion rates (94.25%) and yields (76.68%) were achieved, demonstrating the potential for efficient EG to GA bioconversion.
Conclusions:
- Yeast biodiversity offers a promising avenue for the bioconversion of ethylene glycol (EG) into glycolic acid (GA).
- Scheffersomyces stipitis exhibits significant potential for industrial-scale GA production from EG, contributing to plastic waste valorization.
- This research lays the foundation for developing sustainable yeast-based upcycling strategies for plastic-derived monomers.
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