1,5-Pentanediol (1,5-PDO) is a linear diol containing five carbon atoms and two hydroxyl groups. As an important chemical intermediate, it is widely used in the manufacture of polyurethane, polyester, plasticizers, inkjet inks or inks, coatings and fragrances.
Currently, the large-scale commercial production of 1,5-PDO relies on petroleum-based raw materials, primarily through the hydrogenation-reduction of glutamic acid or its diesters. However, the capability of 1,5-PDO production based on the mentioned chemical approaches is constrained by the limited accessible C5 petroleum feedstocks. Therefore, developing the bio-manufacturing of 1,5-PDO is of great significance.
Our team plans to genetically engineer E. coli to develop a cell factory for producing 1,5-PDO. Glucose will be used as the raw material for synthesizing 1,5-PDO. The genes responsible for branched pathways will be deleted, and rational engineering enzymes by site mutation and scaffold-dependent assembly will be employed to enhance the yield of the 1.5-PDO cell factory.
In recent years, the main downstream application field of 1,5-PDO has been growing rapidly. Polyurethane and Polyester Resins have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% and 4.2%, respectively. Driven by the growing demand for downstream products, the global 1,5-PDO market size was estimated at USD 48 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 62 million by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period . In China, 1,5-PDO also has a certain scale of production, about 180,000 tons per year . Therefore, 1,5-PDO will have broad market prospects.
1,5-PDO is widely used in the manufacture of products such as polyurethane, polyester, plasticizers, inkjet inks, coatings, and fragrances. Our end users include 1,5-PDO manufacturers and other manufacturers who use 1,5-PDO as raw materials .
Global 1,5-PDO key players include BASF, UBE and Yuanli. Global top three manufacturers hold about 81% of the market share. With the global concern for environmental issues and carbon emissions, green products from renewable raw materials are more and more favored, and the mild and green bioprocessing process has received more attention from the industry. Bio-based chemicals and materials are one of the hot spots. Therefore, bio-based 1,5-PDO will get the attention of relevant manufacturers.
The largest application of 1,5-PDO is the production of polyurethane and polyester in the market. Further, polyurethane and polyester resins are commonly used to form polyurethane coatings and polyester coatings. Polyurethane modified with 1,5-PDO offers several advantages, including high mechanical strength, water resistance, high heat resistance, and oxidation resistance. Unsaturated polyester synthesized by 1,5-PDO have excellent water resistance, flexibility, and the alkali resistance. Due to their excellent properties, polyurethane and polyester synthesized by 1,5-PDO have broad market applications, which will bring a broad market for 1,5-PDO in the field of polyurethane and polyester.
1,5-PDO is widely used in ink production. Wetting agents produced with 1,5-PDO have high viscosity can be used to produce high-viscosity inkjet inks. These wetting agents improve the stability of ink ejection from the print head during high-speed printing on plain paper, resulting in high-quality images with good tones and chroma and reduced clogging. Therefore, 1,5-PDO is welcomed by ink manufacturers.
1,5-PDO is also used to synthesize the fragrance Ambrox 105 (11-oxa-hexadecanolide). Ambrox 105 synthesized with 1,5-PDO has excellent fixative properties, and is used in high-end and mid-range cosmetics and soap fragrances. It imparts fragrances with an elegant, gentle and lasting scent, making it an internationally best-selling product.
E. coli used in our project may accidentally be released into the environment or ingested, posing threats to human health and the environment.
The organism used in our project is E. coli, which is classified as a risk group 1 with low risk and widely utilized in the fermentation industry. We are equipped with a bio-safety cabinet and super clean bench. In addition, we implement strict hygiene control measures, which includes the use of sterile techniques, regular cleaning and disinfection of equipment, and maintaining a clean laboratory environment. These measures are aimed at minimizing bacterial contamination.Waste from experiments and production have be disposed of according to the requirements of the laboratory and relevant departments. Before obtaining legal and policy permission from competent authorities, our engineered strains will be strictly kept in the laboratory.
Safety training is a required course for entering the laboratory. Regular laboratory safety training is organized by our school as a requirement. Untrained members are prohibited from entering the lab. All members must earnestly participate in and fully comprehend the safety training organized by school, which is a fundamental requirement. The lab enforces strict dress code for every person entering, no exceptions allowed. Moreover, all laboratories are staffed with safety officers and teachers to ensure that work in the laboratory is safe and effective.
No laboratory wishes for emergencies requiring the use of emergency facilities, but equipping comprehensive emergency facilities to prevent safety accidents is crucial. Our lab equips various emergency facilities, and conducts regular inspection and maintenance to ensure readiness at all times.
To prevent bacterial contamination, our lab implements stringent hygiene control measures, including the use of sterile techniques, regular cleaning, disinfection of equipment, and maintaining a clean lab environment. Waste from experiments and production has been disposed of according to the requirements of the lab and relevant departments.
For more security information, see our Safety Form.
In theory, the E. coli cell factory for 1,5-PDO production in our project has prospects for industrialization and commercialization, but the production cost is high. Strict control and monitoring are usually required to ensure product quality. Compared to small-scale production, large-scale production requires a lot of investment and resources. Further production increases and cost reductions are necessary. It also takes more time.
During implementation, it is important to consider the lack of knowledge or bias that entrepreneurs and potential end users may have towards genetic engineering and related derivatives. To this end, we should carry out publicity and promotion activities to reduce their prejudice or misunderstanding.
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