Invista and Lanza Tech have developed a metabolic toolkit that has been successfully applied to generate novel metabolic pathways to bio-derived butadiene and key precursors. This breakthrough highlights the value a metabolic toolkit can bring in developing new pathways for bio-based and bio-derived chemical production.
The development underscores the progress made on butadiene production via gas fermentation technology as a result of Invista’s collaboration with LanzaTech. A metabolic toolkit integrates detailed knowledge about a bacterium’s genetic configuration with the tools to precisely customise that configuration in order to make a particular product, together with a model to accurately predict the performance of the bacterium. This work is in an early stage of development with an aim to commercialise within the next several years.
Butadiene, a key intermediate chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and various plastics, is used by Invista in its proprietary, butadiene-based adiponitrile production technologies. ADN is a critical intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon 6,6.
Invista and LanzaTech first announced their gas fermentation collaboration efforts in 2012. LanzaTech’s work with Invista represents a significant step in integrating the chemicals supply chain into a circular economy model. By utilising waste carbon resources, the production of butadiene is decoupled from today’s commodity feed stocks.
www.lanzatech.com/
