Projects
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| Reference Number | UKRI3190 | |
| Title | Rewiring Yarrowia lipolytica to design green biorefineries for complete valorisation of sugar beet pulp | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Not Energy Related (Not Energy) 50%; Energy Efficiency (Industry) 50%; |
|
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Rodrigo Ledesma Almaro Imperial College London |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 01 November 2025 | |
| End Date | 01 November 2028 | |
| Duration | 36 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £981,583 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Unknown | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | Engineering | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Rodrigo Ledesma Almaro , Imperial College London |
| Other Investigator | Ahsan Islam , Loughborough University Vinod Kumar , Cranfield University Ali Nabavi , Cranfield University |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | Introduction According to the UK Biomass Strategy published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in 2023, sustainable biomass use across the economy plays a vital role in achieving the ambitious target of net zero carbon emission by 2050. Aligned with The Biomass Strategy Policy Statement, widespread biomass use in the industrial sector provides a low-carbon alternative to conventional chemical synthesis, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sugar beet pulp (SBP), a major waste stream from sugar industries in the UK/Europe is currently sold as animal feed and its valorisation into more value-added products is essential to establish profitable SBP-based biorefineries. The proposal aims to design Yarrowia lipolytica-based cell factories to produce value-added chemicals (zeaxanthin and 1,4-butanediol (BDO)) from SBP, providing a sustainable route for the UK’s nascent bio-based industry. BDO, a tetracarbon diol, is an industrially important large-volume commodity with applications in the food, chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industries. BDO is used as a starting material for manufacturing different products including polybutylene terephthalate, tetrahydrofuran, γ-butyrolactone (GBL), and polybutylene succinate. Zeaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment and a potent antioxidant found in yellow vegetables and fruits, including corn, orange peppers, mangoes, pink grapefruit, apricots, etc. It has a wide range of applications, from colorants and antioxidants in the food industry to dietary food supplements and cosmetics. The consortium brings together the expertise of esteemed academics (Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, and Dr Razieh Rafieenia, Imperial College, London, Dr Vinod Kumar, Cranfield University and Dr Ahsan Islam, Loughborough University) and industrial partners (C-Source Renewables, and FRUU Cosmetics) who will provide in-kind support. The project will apply systems/synthetic biology, metabolic and bioprocess engineering approaches coupled with machine learning algorithms to ensure industrial scale production of zeaxanthin and BDO. The proposed research is part of a wider vision to enable efficient use of all major monosaccharides in lignocellulosic-based waste streams with a circular biorefining approach. Research Aim & Objectives The overall aim of the proposed research is to design and construct Y. lipolytica-based cell factories by rewiring its metabolic network to enable the sustainable biomanufacturing of zeaxanthin and BDO from SBP. This involves achieving specific and measurable milestones: I) Machine learning-based design of optimised strain engineering strategies, II) Construction of L-arabinose and D-galacturonic metabolising Y. lipolytica strains, III) Bioconversion of L-arabinose and D-galacturonic acid into zeaxanthin and BDO by the engineered Y. lipolytica strains, IV) Scaled-up production of target chemicals. The potential direct or indirect benefits: The project outcomes will hugely benefit the current, unsustainable, fossil fuel-based chemical industries, as these are identified as the key and direct beneficiaries of the work through the availability of environmentally friendly products. The profound research investigation and investment in this area will strengthen the bioeconomy, improve the economic viability of bio-based industries including pharmaceuticals, and polymer industries, and create new employment opportunities in the UK from researchers to engineers and operators. The efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic-based wastes into value-added chemicals will benefit the polymer and pharmaceutical industries by contributing to circular biorefining, leading to more sustainable and environmentally friendly bioprocesses. Additionally, the use of wastes as inexpensive raw material will result in reduced process costs and, subsequently, lower market price of the final products | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 07/01/26 | |
