Grant: Idea to Innovation

Establishing Canada at the forefront of the emerging global bioeconomy requires the development of innovative technologies to valorize the vast amounts of lignocellulosic biomass generated by our forestry and agricultural industries. In recent years, technologies to convert biomass into lignocellulosic sugars have become considerably more cost-effective. However, these sugars are still primarily employed for the production of low-value biofuels whose poor economic outlook impedes the widespread adoption of biorefineries. It is increasingly recognized that a vibrant, robust bioeconomy must be based on the production of high-value products that satisfy global markets. We have created a novel microbial biocatalyst to sustainably convert lignocellulosic sugars to high-value wax esters, a neutral lipid widely used in the cosmetic industry. Currently, wax esters are produced primarily from petroleum and palm oil, two notoriously unsustainable sources. Our technology outperforms any natural or engineered microbial systems reported to date, and therefore holds great promise for the sustainable production of wax esters. This I2I project aims to further develop our biocatalyst and to demonstrate its efficacy as a platform technology for the sustainable, industrial production of high-value, lipid-based oleochemicals. More specifically, this project will validate scaled-fermentation of our biocatalyst, extraction and separation of wax esters, and the use of these wax esters in cosmetic products. Extraction will be developed in collaboration with our partner, NRC. Ultimately, this work will facilitate the transfer of our technology to an industrial setting, building Canada's bioeconomy and contributing to the development of a novel, sustainable bioprocess for an important class of oleochemicals.*