Fermentation is key for the circular economy

Chemicals and materials from renewable raw materials, such as biomass, will become increasingly important in the circular economy of the future. It is likely that microbial fermentation conversion technology will play a key role in this process. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research investigated the state of chemical production with fermentation technology based on scientific literature.

It identified a Top 7 of promising methods for the sustainable production of bulk chemicals as an alternative to products currently made from petroleum. They are: ethanol, lactic acid, succinic acid, 1,3-propanediol, itaconic acid, 1,4-butanediol and PHA (biopolymers).

Development of new technology

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research's study can serve as a tool to decide on investments in realistic processes and raw materials for the biotechnological production of widely used chemicals. Meanwhile, the development of new technology is ongoing. Using genome editing, high-throughput screening and computer calculations, for example, it is possible to develop new strains of micro-organisms. Work is also in progress to integrate electrochemistry into fermentation processes. This could further increase the efficiency and thus the economic viability of these processes.

Read the publication 'Fermentation for the production of biobased chemicals in a circular economy : a perspective for the period 2022-2050'

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