Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Waterloo
$150,500.00
Strain engineering and bioprocessing strategies for bio-based production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) using cheap feedstocks
FY 2020-21
Summary
Due to unstable supply of fossil fuels, numerous environmental concerns of climate change, stringent regulations for petro-based production, and motivation to "low carbon" economy, replacing petrochemical processes with biomass-biological strategies has been recognized as a modern technology for renewable, sustainable, and clean manufacturing of value-added chemicals and fuels. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural polyesters recently attracting considerable interests as promising candidates to replace petro-based synthetic plastics with numerous environmental impacts. Based on common interests in bio-based production of PHAs, our biomanufacturing research group at UWaterloo and Genecis Bioindustries, a Toronto-based company, initiate the proposed research with a major objective to develop an advanced whole-cell transformation platform, including genetically and metabolically engineered bacterial strains, and their associated bioprocessing strategies, for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a biocopolymer member of PHAs, using cheap feedstocks, such as glycerol and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Genecis has recently decided to explore PHBV-related technologies upon recognizing certain limitations associated with their existing PHA bioprocess and products. The developed engineered bacterial strains and bioprocesses for PHBV production can be readily transferred to Genecis for large-scale production, benefiting the existing Canadian biopolymer industry not only technologically but also economically. The proposed research is also highly multidisciplinary in biological sciences and industrial biotechnology with the following envisioned outcomes and benefits: (1) developing a clean, renewable, sustainable, and economically feasible PHBV bioprocess; (2) boosting Canada's research capacity and technological development in bioprocessing strategies and biopolymer production; (3) improving Canada's living environment and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through clean biomanufacturing; and (4) training highly qualified personnel (HQP) for meeting challenges of the next generation of industrial biotechnology.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
539590-2019
Name nom
Chou, C. Perry
Department département
Chemical Engineering
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2020
Competition year année de concours
2019
Award amount
150500
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
1802
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Biochemical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie biochimique
Installment
inst:2 - 2
Partie
1
Nb partie
2
Application title
Strain engineering and bioprocessing strategies for bio-based production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) using cheap feedstocks
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Due to unstable supply of fossil fuels, numerous environmental concerns of climate change, stringent regulations for petro-based production, and motivation to "low carbon" economy, replacing petrochemical processes with biomass-biological strategies has been recognized as a modern technology for renewable, sustainable, and clean manufacturing of value-added chemicals and fuels. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural polyesters recently attracting considerable interests as promising candidates to replace petro-based synthetic plastics with numerous environmental impacts. Based on common interests in bio-based production of PHAs, our biomanufacturing research group at UWaterloo and Genecis Bioindustries, a Toronto-based company, initiate the proposed research with a major objective to develop an advanced whole-cell transformation platform, including genetically and metabolically engineered bacterial strains, and their associated bioprocessing strategies, for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a biocopolymer member of PHAs, using cheap feedstocks, such as glycerol and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Genecis has recently decided to explore PHBV-related technologies upon recognizing certain limitations associated with their existing PHA bioprocess and products. The developed engineered bacterial strains and bioprocesses for PHBV production can be readily transferred to Genecis for large-scale production, benefiting the existing Canadian biopolymer industry not only technologically but also economically. The proposed research is also highly multidisciplinary in biological sciences and industrial biotechnology with the following envisioned outcomes and benefits: (1) developing a clean, renewable, sustainable, and economically feasible PHBV bioprocess; (2) boosting Canada's research capacity and technological development in bioprocessing strategies and biopolymer production; (3) improving Canada's living environment and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through clean biomanufacturing; and (4) training highly qualified personnel (HQP) for meeting challenges of the next generation of industrial biotechnology.
