Hydroxymethylfurfural HMF Engineering Service

Hydroxymethylfurfural HMF is a crucial platform chemical and Bio-monomers FDCA Precursor for polyethylene furanoate PEF and other furan derivatives. The main production challenge is that Chemical conversion from cellulose/fructose is non-specific, leading to side products e.g. levulinic acid and humins, which significantly reduce the yield and complicate purification. The non-specific nature of the chemical catalysis makes a green alternative necessary.

CD Biosynsis offers a highly specific enzymatic solution for HMF production: Enzymatic Synthesis: Use highly selective Dehydratases and Isomerases in a cell-free system to efficiently convert Fructose or Glucose to HMF. Using specific enzymes dramatically increases selectivity and yield. To enhance stability and recovery, we implement Solvent Engineering: Utilize biphasic reaction systems to enhance HMF yield and stability. This approach allows for continuous extraction of the product, minimizing side reactions and maximizing the final concentration.

Pain Points

The industrial production of HMF faces these key hurdles:

• Low Selectivity: Conventional acid catalysis lacks precision, resulting in the non-specific degradation of fructose/glucose into various undesired byproducts like humins and levulinic acid, drastically lowering HMF yield.
• Product Instability: HMF is highly reactive and prone to rehydration and polymerization in the aqueous phase, especially under the acidic conditions typically used for its synthesis.
• Catalyst Cost and Separation: The use of homogeneous metal catalysts or strong mineral acids in chemical synthesis increases operational cost and complicates the separation of the catalyst from the final product.
• Feedstock Cost: While derived from abundant biomass, the conversion of glucose to fructose is required for efficient dehydration, adding an extra cost and bottleneck.

A successful solution requires high catalytic specificity under mild conditions to maximize HMF purity and stability.

Solutions

CD Biosynsis utilizes enzyme-based biotransformation to optimize HMF production:

Cell-Free Enzymatic Synthesis

           

We deploy a cell-free system leveraging highly selective enzymes e.g. Isomerases and Dehydratases to perform the multi-step conversion of glucose/fructose to HMF with near-perfect specificity.

Enzyme Engineering

We use directed evolution or rational design to optimize the key Dehydratase enzyme for high conversion efficiency and stability under the mild, near-neutral pH conditions required for biocatalysis.

Biphasic Solvent Engineering

We utilize a biphasic reaction system aqueous/organic solvent to continuously extract the HMF product into the organic phase, minimizing its degradation and polymerization in the aqueous reaction phase.

Glucose Feedstock Utilization

We integrate high-efficiency glucose isomerase into the system, allowing the use of cheaper glucose directly, eliminating the need for separate fructose pretreatment.

This enzymatic platform ensures high yield, high purity, and superior stability of the HMF product.

Advantages

Our HMF engineering service is dedicated to pursuing the following production goals:

Ultra-High Selectivity and Purity Icon

Enzyme catalysis guarantees minimal byproduct formation e.g. levulinic acid, humins, leading to high purity HMF.

Enhanced Product Stability Icon

Biphasic extraction removes HMF from the aqueous phase, preventing its degradation and polymerization.

Mild and Green Reaction Conditions Icon

Synthesis proceeds under near-neutral pH and ambient temperature, avoiding harsh acids and high energy input.

Efficient Glucose Utilization Icon

Integration of an efficient isomerase allows direct, high-yield conversion from cheap glucose feedstock.

High Throughput Cell-Free System Icon

Enzymatic systems allow for higher catalyst loading and faster reaction kinetics compared to whole-cell fermentation.

We deliver a highly efficient and selective biocatalytic solution for high-purity HMF production.

Process

Our HMF biotransformation engineering service follows a rigorous, multi-stage research workflow:

• Enzyme Identification and Engineering: Identify high-activity Dehydratases and Isomerases and use directed evolution to enhance their thermal stability and kinetic performance in the presence of organic solvents.
• Cell-Free System Development: Establish the optimal cell-free enzymatic cascade by balancing the ratios of the key enzymes e.g. Glucose Isomerase and Dehydratase for maximum overall conversion rate.
• Biphasic Solvent Selection: Screen and select the most effective organic solvent for HMF extraction that is compatible with enzyme stability and maximizes the partition coefficient.
• Reaction Kinetics Optimization: Optimize substrate concentration, enzyme loading, and water activity in the biphasic system to ensure high volumetric productivity and HMF yield.
• Product Isolation and Purity Analysis: Quantify the final HMF yield and purity from the organic phase via HPLC and validate the minimal formation of byproducts like levulinic acid.

Technical communication is maintained throughout the process, focusing on timely feedback regarding yield and product quality attributes.

Explore the potential for a green, high-purity HMF supply. CD Biosynsis provides customized biocatalysis and enzyme engineering solutions:

• Detailed Biotransformation Yield and Purity Reports % conversion, % purity from optimized biphasic runs.
• Consultation on solvent recycling and downstream separation protocols for cost-effectiveness.
• Experimental reports include complete raw data on enzyme stability, reaction kinetics, and HMF degradation rate.