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Methanol biotransformation for the production of biodegradable plastic monomer L-lactate in yeast
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Researchers engineered yeast to convert methanol — an inexpensive, non-food feedstock — into L-lactate, the building block for biodegradable PLA plastic, by rewiring metabolic pathways to reduce competition from natural cellular processes and boost yield.
Methanol is an ideal feedstock for biomanufacturing, and production of the biodegradable plastic monomer lactate from methanol is a promising approach for mitigating white pollution. However, it is challenging to engineer microbes for lactate production from methanol because of strong competition between product synthesis and cell growth. Here, Ogataea polymorpha is rewired to synthesize L-lactate from methanol, where the cofactor ratio of NADPH/NADP+ is higher than that of NADH/NAD+. By engineering gene expression, enhancing cell viability, modifying cofactor homeostasis, and performing mitochondrial compartmentalization, 2.5 g/L L-lactate is produced in a shake flask. Fed-batch fermentation in a bioreactor results in the highest titer of 25.0 g/L L-lactate from methanol, which is chemically synthesized from CO2. A techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment are performed to evaluate the commercial potential, environmental impacts, and greenhouse gas mitigation performance of CO2-derived L-lactate. This study could lay the foundation for the carbon-neutral production of biodegradable plastic polylactic acid from CO2.
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A review on lactic acid production via microbial fermentation from biowaste: insights on scaling up to industrial process
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Researchers reviewed microbial fermentation routes for producing lactic acid — the key precursor to the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) — from biowaste feedstocks, identifying scaling challenges and process optimizations needed to transition from expensive food-grade sugars to more sustainable second-generation substrates.
Development of a Strategy for L-Lactic Acid Production by Rhizopus oryzae Using Zizania latifolia Waste and Cane Molasses as Carbon Sources
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This paper is not about microplastics; it develops a fermentation strategy using food-processing waste (Zizania latifolia residues and cane molasses) as carbon sources to produce L-lactic acid, a precursor for biodegradable polylactic acid plastic.
Bioplastic Production from Microbial Systems: Progress, Challenges, and Industrial Prospects
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This review surveys the current state of bioplastic production using microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, highlighting recent advances in yield and material properties. It identifies key technical and economic challenges that limit commercial-scale adoption, including feedstock costs and fermentation efficiency. The authors outline promising research directions for making microbially produced bioplastics more competitive with petroleum-based alternatives.
Methods of Polymerization of Polylactide Bioplastic from Lactic Acid
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Scientists are researching better ways to make bioplastic (called PLA) from lactic acid, a substance derived from plants, instead of using petroleum-based plastics. This matters because traditional plastics don't break down easily and contribute to environmental pollution and microplastic contamination, which has raised concerns about human exposure through food, water, and air. Plant-based, biodegradable alternatives like this could help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up polluting our environment and potentially our bodies.
Recent trends of biotechnological production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from C1 carbon sources
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This review examines recent advances in producing polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics, from C1 carbon sources like methane, methanol, and CO2 using various biotechnological approaches.
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