KOBE, JAPAN — A team of bioengineers at Kobe University has made a significant breakthrough in the quest for sustainable plastic alternatives, creating a bacteria-made material that could replace petroleum in biodegradable plastics. The research, led by bioengineer Tanaka Tsutomu, has resulted in a new and improved method for producing pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA), a key ingredient for making more environmentally friendly plastics.
PDCA is a nitrogen-based, eco-friendly compound that can serve as a replacement for non-biodegradable monomers of terephthalic acid in PET plastics. Previous research had highlighted its potential, but production was hampered by low yields and toxic waste byproducts. The new study, published in the journal Metabolic Engineering, addresses both of these challenges.
The research team developed a new process that utilizes Escherichia coli bacteria, which are fed glucose and boosted with specially selected enzymes. This method allowed them to produce PDCA at yields seven times greater than existing methods while also eliminating the toxic waste that was previously a result of the manufacturing process.
According to Dr. Tanaka, the group approached the challenge from a new angle, “harness[ing] cellular metabolism to assimilate nitrogen and build the compound from start to finish.” He explained that the significance of the work is in “demonstrating that metabolic reactions can be used to incorporate nitrogen without producing unwanted byproducts, thereby enabling the clean and efficient synthesis of the target compound.”
The process was not without its hurdles. The initial revised methods introduced a new toxic byproduct. The researchers, however, found a solution by adding a separate chemical, pyruvate. While this step may introduce new logistical and economic challenges for large-scale production, the team believes it’s a manageable problem.
Despite the remaining challenges in scaling up for commercial use, the research represents a major step forward in the creation of durable, biodegradable plastic. The ability to produce PDCA from natural ingredients in a bioreactor system makes it a increasingly viable alternative to petroleum-based products in plastic manufacturing.
This new development comes as a pressing need for biodegradable alternatives continues to grow, with plastic pollution accumulating in the environment and even in human bodies. The Kobe University team’s achievement, which broadens the range of molecules that can be created through microbial synthesis, offers a promising path toward a more sustainable future.