Microbe makes corn-based chemical
15 Oct 2002
Scientists from DuPont Bio-Based Materials and Genencor have 'developed' a microbe which produces the key ingredient in a new corn-based DuPont polymer.
Through a fermentation process, the microbe converts sugar (glucose) into a monomer, 1,3 propanediol, or PDO. The monomer is then used to make DuPont Sorona 3GT polymer, the company's newest polymer.
'This is a major step in our company's movement toward sustainability through the use of renewable natural resources,' said Dr. John P. Ranieri, Vice President of DuPont Bio-Based Materials.
Genencor and DuPont scientists combined DNA from several different micro-organisms into one production strain resulting in a 500-fold increase in bioprocessing productivity.
DuPont and its other development partner, Tate & Lyle, are now working to finalise the biotechnology-based PDO manufacturing process. Once commercial sales begin, Genencor will receive royalties on each pound of material sold.
DuPont currently manufactures Sorona polymer using PDO from a petrochemical process.
