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Vitamin B12 Biomanufacturing
Dawei Zhang1,2,3,4, Huiying Wang5,6, Qian Kang5,6
1Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China. zhang_dw@tib.cas.cn.
Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Industrial vitamin B12 (cobalamin) production via microbial fermentation faces low yields. This review details innovations in biomanufacturing strategies, strain development, and fermentation technologies to overcome these challenges and improve cost control.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Industrial Microbiology
- Biochemical Engineering
Background:
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is vital for human health and widely used across industries.
- Microbial fermentation using strains like Pseudomonas denitrificans is the primary production method.
- Current low production yields limit industrial development and necessitate innovation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key innovations and advancements in vitamin B12 biomanufacturing.
- To analyze current technical advantages, challenges, and progress in the field.
- To provide insights into market patterns and cost control trends for vitamin B12 production.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of vitamin B12 synthesis pathways.
- Analysis of industrial fermentation strain characteristics and metabolic engineering strategies.
- Evaluation of fermentation technologies and biomanufacturing processes.
Main Results:
- Identified key innovations in vitamin B12 biomanufacturing by Zhang Dawei's research team.
- Clarified technical advantages and current development status of industrial production.
- Analyzed challenges in biomanufacturing and progress in addressing them.
Conclusions:
- Microbial biomanufacturing holds significant potential for vitamin B12 production.
- Continued research in metabolic engineering and fermentation technology is crucial for improving yields.
- Understanding market dynamics and cost control strategies is essential for industry growth.
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