[Whole-cell catalytic synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid]

As one of the most representative platform compounds, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) offers significant potential as a renewable alternative to petroleum-derived terephthalic acid, particularly in the field of biodegradable plastics. Traditional thermocatalytic and electrochemical methods for FDCA production face challenges such as poor catalyst stability and the requirement for strong alkaline conditions. In contrast, biocatalytic approaches operate under milder conditions. However, relevant studies remain limited, and biocatalytic processes often exhibit relatively low conversion rates and production intensity. To explore the biosynthetic pathway of FDCA, enhance the stability of biocatalysts and the synthesis efficiency of FDCA, thereby establishing a green and low-carbon production system. In this study, using 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) as the substrate, a strain of Deinococcus wulumuqiensis DWCS-2 capable of high-yield FDCA production was isolated. Through restrictive factor analysis and process intensification, 10 g/L of DFF was completely converted to 12.5 g/L of FDCA at the shake-flask level. Subsequently, the catalytic system was scaled up to a 5 L fermenter. By employing a fed-batch substrate supplementation strategy, the FDCA titer reached a maximum of 18.8 g/L with a conversion rate of 99%, representing the highest yield reported for whole-cell production of FDCA from DFF to date. This study contributes to advancing the biosynthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid.