Propylene Glycol 1,2-PDOL Engineering Service

Propylene Glycol 1,2-PDOL is a widely used chemical in Solvents/Antifreeze applications e.g. food additives, cosmetics, de-icing fluids, resins. The primary challenge is that Chemical production from propylene oxide is petrochemical-based , relying on fossil fuels and often involving hazardous processes. This necessitates a shift to bio-based, sustainable production methods.

CD Biosynsis offers a dedicated bioconversion engineering platform for 1,2-PDOL production: Bioconversion: Use engineered E. coli or yeast to convert Glycerol into Propylene Glycol 1,2-PDOL. Utilizing glycerol, a cheap biodiesel byproduct, ensures cost-effectiveness. We maximize the biocatalytic efficiency by focusing on Enzyme Engineering: Directed evolution of Glycerol Dehydratase and Propanediol Dehydrogenase for high flux . Optimizing these two key enzymes is vital for overcoming the metabolic bottlenecks and achieving a high final product titer.

Pain Points

The transition to bio-based 1,2-PDOL production faces these key challenges:

• Petrochemical Dependence: The conventional route relies on Propylene Oxide , linking production to the volatile petrochemical market and its associated environmental issues.
• Pathway Bottlenecks: The microbial pathway, often utilizing glycerol, involves key steps catalyzed by Glycerol Dehydratase and Propanediol Dehydrogenase . These steps are often rate-limiting and require complex co-factor regeneration.
• Product and Intermediate Toxicity: The intermediate propionaldehyde and the final product 1,2-PDOL can be toxic to the host cell at the high concentrations required for economic viability, limiting the final titer.
• Competing Pathways: Conversion of glycerol to 1,2-PDOL competes with pathways that produce undesirable byproducts such as ethanol, acetate, and 1,3-propanediol , reducing the target product yield.

A successful solution must combine high enzyme efficiency with robust host cell tolerance and minimal byproduct formation.

Solutions

CD Biosynsis utilizes comprehensive bioconversion and enzyme engineering to optimize 1,2-PDOL production:

Microbial Glycerol Bioconversion

           

We engineer high-performance host organisms like E. coli or yeast to efficiently convert low-cost crude glycerol into 1,2-PDOL via the methylglyoxal pathway or an alternative route.

Key Enzyme Engineering

We use directed evolution or rational design to enhance the activity and stability of Glycerol Dehydratase and Propanediol Dehydrogenase , resolving key metabolic bottlenecks.

Competing Pathway Knockout

We utilize metabolic engineering techniques e.g. gene knockout to eliminate or downregulate competing pathways that lead to undesirable byproducts like 1,3-PDOL and ethanol, maximizing 1,2-PDOL yield.

High-Titer and Tolerance Engineering

We engineer the host cell's stress response and membrane transport systems to improve tolerance to high concentrations of 1,2-PDOL and its intermediates , enabling high final titers. [Image of High Conversion Efficiency Icon]

This systematic engineering approach ensures high yield, low cost, and robust production of bio-based Propylene Glycol.

Advantages

Our 1,2-PDOL engineering service is dedicated to pursuing the following production goals:

Cost-Effective Feedstock Icon

Efficient conversion of crude glycerol , an inexpensive industrial byproduct, significantly reduces the raw material cost.

Replace Petrochemical Reliance Icon

Sustainable bioconversion offers a green alternative to the hazardous and non-renewable propylene oxide route. [Image of Cost Reduction Icon]

High Catalytic Flux and Yield Icon

Enzyme and pathway engineering ensures the highest possible conversion rate and product yield from glycerol.

Enhanced Strain Robustness Icon

Engineered hosts demonstrate high tolerance to 1,2-PDOL and fermentation inhibitors, supporting high-titer production.

Minimal Byproduct Formation Icon

Targeted knockout of competing pathways significantly improves product purity , reducing downstream costs.

We deliver an economically optimized and high-performing microbial cell factory for sustainable Propylene Glycol biosynthesis.

Process

Our 1,2-PDOL strain engineering service follows a rigorous, multi-stage research workflow:

• Pathway Integration: Introduce the necessary genes for the glycerol to 1,2-PDOL pathway e.g. dihydroxyacetone kinase, methylglyoxal synthase into the host organism E. coli or yeast.
• Enzyme Engineering and Optimization: Screen and engineer the rate-limiting enzymes, especially Glycerol Dehydratase and Propanediol Dehydrogenase, for enhanced activity and stability via directed evolution.
• Metabolic Pathway Tuning: Perform gene knockouts or downregulation of competing pathways e.g. 1,3-PDOL or ethanol synthesis, to redirect carbon flux to the target product.
• Tolerance and Fermentation Optimization: Develop high-cell-density fermentation protocols using crude glycerol and engineer the host for improved product tolerance to achieve high final titers.
• Product Titer and Yield Analysis: Quantify the final 1,2-PDOL titer and yield via HPLC or GC and validate the strain performance under industrial fed-batch conditions.

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

Explore the potential for a sustainable, high-titer Propylene Glycol supply. CD Biosynsis provides customized strain and process engineering solutions:

• Detailed 1,2-PDOL Titer and Yield Reports g/L, percentage of theoretical yield from optimized fermentation runs.
• Consultation on crude glycerol utilization and media formulation strategies.
• Experimental reports include complete raw data on enzyme activities, byproduct formation, and strain tolerance levels .