Germany | Bayern

Zurück zur Suche

Internationale Partnersuche

Innovation & Technologie Angebot

Enzymatic production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid from 5-methoxymethylfurfural

Country of Origin: Spain
Reference Number: TOES20170630002
Publication Date: 30 June 2017

Summary

A Spanish public research organisation, a Spanish university and a German university have developed an enzymatic composition and its use as an enzymatic cascade for the production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from 5-methoxymethylfurfural (MMF). This cascade is self-sustained with the only consumption of atmospheric oxygen and the MMF itself. It can be applied as a step in the bioplastic producing industry. Industrial partners are sought for a license agreement.

Description

Nowadays, there is an increase in the need of the substitution of petroleum-based materials with renewable ones. In this regard, FDCA is a promising precursor for the production of renewable and biodegradable bioplastics. FDCA can be obtained from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) through the acidic dehydration of fructose, but MMF represents a promising alternative to HMF.

The use of enzymes for the production of FDCA is interesting to substitute the current methods based on chemical catalysts and acid-containing solvents such as acetic acid dilutions.

The procedure developed uses the novel enzymatic composition for the bioconversion of plant-derived, thus, renewable, MMF into FDCA by enzymatic catalysts that only consumes atmospheric oxygen and that can be carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The MMF is obtained by the acidic dehydration of lignocellulose-derived fructose in the presence of methanol and is supposed to exhibit better storage stability than HMF. It can be used in the industrial production of polyethylene furandicarboxylates (PEFs) using enzymes for FDCA production instead of inorganic catalysts.

The groups involved in the technology have broad experience in the area, with several projects in the same field and are open to colaborate with possible licencsees.

The cotitular institutions are looking for Company interested in the developement and commerzialization of this novel enzymes and to use the process under a license agreement. The results have been obtained at a laboratory scale, therefore some further development might be need and the Spanish research centre as well as the Univiersities could collaborate with the company in that project.

Advantages and Innovations

The method described does not use inorganic catalysts, but enzymes that accomplish their tasks synergistically at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. 

The method saves energy in comparison with the current techniques, which rely on high temperatures for the production of FDCA, and is environmentally-friendly.

Stage Of Development

Under development/lab tested

Stage Of Development Comment

Under development/lab tested

Requested partner

Industrial partners are being sought to develop and commercialize the enzymatic composition through a patent licence agreement

Cooperation offer ist closed for requests