This presentation describes selected vignettes of research performed by my group towards integrating biocatalytic and chemical routes to develop next-generation affordable green processes and products. ω-Hydroxyfatty acids derived from fatty acids provide a platform of biobased building blocks for polymers, surfactants and other applications. A brief description will be given of an engineered Candida tropicalis strain from which 16 genes were identified and eliminated. The resulting organism provides an efficient route to ω-hydroxyfatty acids. In one example, 14-hydroxytetradecanoic acid (ω-HOC14) was produced from the corresponding acid at 120 g/L and 2 g L-1 min-1. ω-HOC14 was then converted via condensation polymerization to poly(14-hydroxytetradecanoic acid) (Tm = 96 oC, Mw=160 000) that behaves similarly to medium density polyethylene but is degradable in composts. Peptides bring numerous properties of great value such as self-assembly, antimicrobial, adhesion, suppress ice formation and much more. However, their use is limited to applications such as therapeutics due to tedious and high-cost synthetic routes. Protease catalyzed peptide synthesis can be run under aqueous and bulk conditions using amino acid ethyl esters as monomers. Examples will be discussed of protease-catalyzed synthesis of alternating, block and random oligopeptides, applications and future directions. Considering the current state of plastic waste and a general lack of success in plastic recycling with few exceptions, it is imperative that alternative solutions are developed to unlock the latent energy of plastic waste. Our group is beginning to take a more holistic view of potential solutions while current work has focused on poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, and cellulose acetate, CA. We have been studying powerful hydrolases known as cutinases that can convert PET to its monomers under mild conditions. Biocatalysis also provides access to microbially produced biosurfactants from renewable feedstocks. Our laboratory has studied simple modification chemistry that improves their cost-performance for use in a wide range of applications.

Award Address (ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company and endowed by Rohm and Haas Company). Biocatalytic routes to tunable building blocks, surfactants and polymers

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.