Post by Mr. Clean on Mar 8, 2009 21:44:19 GMT -5
FACT SHEET
DuPont and Genencor
A History of Technology Success
DuPont and Genencor have a history of successful collaboration. In 1995, the companies partnered to develop a
novel biological approach to produce Bio-PDO™ (propanediol) using renewably sourced materials from corn
starch. The resulting microbial biocatalyst that carries out this complex transformation stands today as one of the
most successful examples of metabolic engineering.
Today, Bio-PDO™ is manufactured by DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, LLC
in Loudon, Tennessee, U.S.
DuPont and Genencor were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency in 2003 when they were awarded the Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Award. Last year, leading scientists and engineers from DuPont,
Genencor and Tate & Lyle were recognized by the American Chemical Society
with the 2007 Heroes of Chemistry award.
Moving from an idea to a commercial-scale facility was no small task. The
complex challenge of developing a commercial process for the biological
production of 1,3-propanediol from renewable resources required the integration
of diverse scientific disciplines and advances in the emerging field of industrial biotechnology.
“One of the most important and large-scale manufacturing experiments right now is [being conducted] with the
Bio-PDO™ plant in Tennessee. The scientific and business communities are watching this closely. This kind of
manufacturing - using a natural resource like sugar to provide carbon in a renewable fashion, rather than using oil
— will be a key strategy for the future. I think the Bio-PDO™ plant is the first large-scale test of these ideas.” –
J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Founder and president, J. Craig Venter Institute, Co-founder and CEO, Synthetic
Genomics, Inc.
At the time of the Bio-PDO™ research program, genomics was in its infancy and the aims of metabolic engineering
were focused on incremental improvements of natural processes. Tools, methods and the knowledge to enable the
radical re-design of metabolic pathways to meet commercial performance specifications were only starting to
emerge. The Bio-PDO™ team tapped into these emerging technological trends to comb through the genes of the
selected microbial biocatalyst and make selected changes to increase and optimize performance. Approximately 30
gene alterations proved to be beneficial and were subsequently incorporated into the genetic software of the final
biocatalyst.
The production of Bio-PDO™ at the world’s only commercial facility in Loudon, Tenn., consumes 40 percent less
energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 56 percent compared to petroleum-based propanediol. Annual
production of 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO™ will save the energy equivalent of over 13.5 million gallons of
gasoline per year, or enough to fuel more than 27,000 cars.
DuPont and Genencor, a division of Danisco, are partnering again to merge research programs in cellulosic ethanol
to create the premier, optimized technology solution. The companies have formed a joint venture that will bring this
technology to market.
DuPont and Genencor
A History of Technology Success
DuPont and Genencor have a history of successful collaboration. In 1995, the companies partnered to develop a
novel biological approach to produce Bio-PDO™ (propanediol) using renewably sourced materials from corn
starch. The resulting microbial biocatalyst that carries out this complex transformation stands today as one of the
most successful examples of metabolic engineering.
Today, Bio-PDO™ is manufactured by DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, LLC
in Loudon, Tennessee, U.S.
DuPont and Genencor were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency in 2003 when they were awarded the Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Award. Last year, leading scientists and engineers from DuPont,
Genencor and Tate & Lyle were recognized by the American Chemical Society
with the 2007 Heroes of Chemistry award.
Moving from an idea to a commercial-scale facility was no small task. The
complex challenge of developing a commercial process for the biological
production of 1,3-propanediol from renewable resources required the integration
of diverse scientific disciplines and advances in the emerging field of industrial biotechnology.
“One of the most important and large-scale manufacturing experiments right now is [being conducted] with the
Bio-PDO™ plant in Tennessee. The scientific and business communities are watching this closely. This kind of
manufacturing - using a natural resource like sugar to provide carbon in a renewable fashion, rather than using oil
— will be a key strategy for the future. I think the Bio-PDO™ plant is the first large-scale test of these ideas.” –
J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Founder and president, J. Craig Venter Institute, Co-founder and CEO, Synthetic
Genomics, Inc.
At the time of the Bio-PDO™ research program, genomics was in its infancy and the aims of metabolic engineering
were focused on incremental improvements of natural processes. Tools, methods and the knowledge to enable the
radical re-design of metabolic pathways to meet commercial performance specifications were only starting to
emerge. The Bio-PDO™ team tapped into these emerging technological trends to comb through the genes of the
selected microbial biocatalyst and make selected changes to increase and optimize performance. Approximately 30
gene alterations proved to be beneficial and were subsequently incorporated into the genetic software of the final
biocatalyst.
The production of Bio-PDO™ at the world’s only commercial facility in Loudon, Tenn., consumes 40 percent less
energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 56 percent compared to petroleum-based propanediol. Annual
production of 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO™ will save the energy equivalent of over 13.5 million gallons of
gasoline per year, or enough to fuel more than 27,000 cars.
DuPont and Genencor, a division of Danisco, are partnering again to merge research programs in cellulosic ethanol
to create the premier, optimized technology solution. The companies have formed a joint venture that will bring this
technology to market.