Chemical and biological-based isoprene production: Green metrics

Abstract

a b s t r a c tGreen metrics is a methodology which allows the greenness of either new or already existing processes to be assessed. This paper is a part of a special issue devoted to green metrics in which this methodology is applied to different processes to assess bio and petrochemical routes. In this work, green metrics were used as a tool to validate and compare the petrochemical and biological processes of isoprene production. The Sumitomo process has been selected for this comparison as it is beneficial because of it using less expensive C 1 components as well as the fact that it has lower investment costs for a single-step process. The production of isoprene through a modified Escherichia coli bacterial process has been selected for comparison with the fossil pathway. The green metrics evaluation was performed for both processes to produce isoprene and to target 50,000 tonnes of isoprene yearly.Although, the calculated costs for the bio-isoprene are slightly higher than the actual market price of its fossil counterpart, the results obtained reveal that the bacteria-based isoprene production is able to substitute the petrochemical process, with material and energy efficiency. This conclusion has also been proved by the increasing number of industrial interest in bioisoprene. The challenge comes from the land use needed for the production of a carbon source which might be solved by the use of waste and residues which are rich in carbohydrates or lignocellulosic biomass which can be converted to simple sugars.

Isoprene synthesis from formaldehyde and isobutene over Keggin-type heteropolyacids supported on silica

“…[1][2][3][4] At the moment, approximately 94% of isoprene latex is produced from the milky sap of rubber trees. [1][2][3][4] At the moment, approximately 94% of isoprene latex is produced from the milky sap of rubber trees.…”

Synthetic biology strategies for improving microbial synthesis of “green” biopolymers

“…Biobased production of chemicals from sugars and biomass is more sustainable than traditional non-renewable petrochemical routes (4). The cell factory approach, where a chemical is synthesized in vivo, utilizes simple and inexpensive starting materials like glucose.…”

Engineering isoprene synthesis in cyanobacteria

“…Isoprene (Isp) is one such industrially important chemical, as one million tons of it are produced annually from petrochemicals and consumed for industrial applications on a global scale [3]. In addition to its fossil origin, Isp is a naturally produced chemical, emitted from the leaves of many deciduous and evergreen plants including eucalyptus, oak, poplar, and some legumes in response to heat and drought stress [4][5][6][7].…”

“…industry [3]. About 60% of total Isp used for commercial rubber production is generated from fossil fuels, and about 40% is derived from natural resources, primarily from the sap of the tropical rubber tree Havea brasiliensis [11], which is collected in the form of natural rubber.…”