Microbial synthesis of vanillin from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate). Issue 13 (10th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sadler, Joanna C.; Wallace, Stephen
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 23:Issue 13(2021)
• Page Start: 4665
• Page End: 4672
• Publication Date: 2021-06-10
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/d1gc00931a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : An engineered biosynthetic pathway in Escherichia coli enables the one-pot upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into vanillin. Abstract : Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is an abundant and extremely useful material, with widespread applications across society. However, there is an urgent need to develop technologies to valorise post-consumer PET waste to tackle plastic pollution and move towards a circular economy. Whilst PET degradation and recycling technologies have been reported, examples focus on repurposing the resultant monomers to produce more PET or other second-generation materials. Herein, we report a novel pathway in engineered Escherichia coli for the direct upcycling of PET derived monomer terephthalic acid into the value-added small molecule vanillin, a flavour compound ubiquitous in the food and cosmetic industries, and an important bulk chemical. After process optimisation, 79% conversion to vanillin from TA was achieved, a 157-fold improvement over our initial conditions. Parameters such as temperature, cell permeabilisation and in situ product removal were key to maximising vanillin titres. Finally, we demonstrate the conversion of post-consumer PET from a plastic bottle into vanillin by coupling the pathway with enzyme-catalysed PET hydrolysis. This work demonstrates the first biological upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into vanillin using an engineered microorganism.