S132: Advances in oxygen-deprived production of biochemicals by metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum

The biorefinery vision whereby biomass feedstock is converted into industrial products complements the petrochemical industry to provide mankind with the array of chemicals, polymers, and materials of modern life. A distinctive characteristic of this emerging industry is that it offers the possibility to develop novel materials with novel properties and addresses the needs of Society in a sustainable manner. To manage the fast approaching “Peak Oil” point while preserving access to land and water resources in priority for food production, the race is on to develop robust and efficient processes to transform non-feed and non-food raw materials into chemicals and fuels. Lignocellulosic biomass constitutes an exciting alternative since it can be sourced from crops that grow in lands unfit for producing food or feed, and it can make use of some agricultural, municipal, and industrial wastes. However, the pre-treatment of these feedstocks generates fermentation inhibitors and results in complex mixtures of various hexoses and pentoses that are not easily transformed using conventional technologies. The next iteration in the biorefinery technology cycle is likely to come from advances in process technologies, since higher productivities, faster turn-around times, and the ability to utilize in parallel mixed sugars while decreasing the negative impact of fermentation inhibitors are likely to represent essential attributes. A process developed at RITE over several years that addresses these shortcomings operates under oxygen-deprived conditions, thus simplifying a typical industrial issue. The performance of the new process is exemplified by the production of chemicals and fuels.