First Process For Non-chemical Production Of 1,3-propandiol Using Waste Glycerol

摘要

A method of converting raw glycerol into 1,3-propandiol - a chemical base for producing polyesters or wood paint - has been developed by Dr. Wolfgang Krischke and other researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfa-cial Engineering and Biotechnology 1GB in Stuttgart, Germany. Until now 1,3-propandiol has always been chemically synthesized, but it can also be derived from glycerol by certain micro-organisms.rnSo far Clostridium diolis bacteria could produce a comparatively high yield of chemical feedstock, but were unable to convert raw glycerol. This was because raw glycerol contains fatty acids left over from the oil, and thesernhad to be separated out. Furthermore, high concentrations of both the glycerol substrate and the 1,3-propandiol product inhibit the growth of the bacteria. The scientists have managed to solve this problem to a large extent by keeping the bioreactor in continuous operation, because once the glycerol has been almost fully converted, it loses its inhibiting effect. In this way, they have achieved a stable process with high product concentrations. The separated fatty acids can be converted by yeasts to long chain dicarboxylic acids providing novel building blocks for polymer industries.