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Plastics from malic acid could find uses as varied as golf balls and printing ink
21/08/2012
New fungus strain makes malic acid
Building block could lead to renewable plastics
Helen Tunnicliffe
NOVOZYMES says that it has developed a fungus which converts renewable feedstocks into malic acid, a useful chemical building block.
Malic acid is usually found in fruit and vegetables and is used in the food and drink industry to enhance sour flavours. However, it also shows great potential as a precursor for bio-based chemicals. Similar to succinic and fumaric acids, it can be converted into1,4-butanediol (BDO), which in turn can be used to make polymers and resins for uses as varied as golf balls and printing ink. The global market is worth around US$130m/y.
The fungus, a strain of Aspergillus oryzae, converts maize starch into malic acid in a standard fermentation process. Novozymes is now looking to license the technology to industry partners for commercialisation.
“This is our first biochemical building block and a major milestone towards building a biochemical industry together with partners,” says Novozymes’ Executive Vice President Thomas Videbæk, adding that the need for sustainable alternatives is “growing due to concerns about crude oil scarcity and price fluctuations.”
