Project description
Sustainable synthesis of amino alcohols using enzyme cascades
Amino alcohols and 2-hydroxy ketones represent valuable products for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry but are complicated to synthesise. Presently, these compounds are often produced in countries with poor working conditions and low safety and environmental standards. An innovative process already laid the base for a sustainable process, atomic and step-efficient enzymatic (2-steps) reaction for amino alcohols production from inexpensive starting materials. The ERC-funded SusECAS - DemoPlant aims to bring this innovative synthesis idea to the level of industrial application. A multi-gram demonstration plant will enable process evaluation, demonstrating the ecological and economic potential. The project will perform a systematic market analysis and develop a business plan for commercialisation and market introduction of the products and technology.
Objective
The development of more environmentally friendly synthesis methods is urgently needed if humanity wants to maintain an environment worth living in. The establishment of more biocatalytic steps in chemical synthesis is a possible solution, as enzymes and whole cells offer sustainable advantages such as biodegradability, toxicity, high selectivity and much more.
Amino alcohols and 2-hydroxy ketones are valuable compounds with various applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry with market prices >1000 €/kg, but challenging synthesis strategies. As a result of synthesis options with disastrous footprints, these molecules are often produced in countries with poor working conditions and significantly lower safety and environmental standards than those accepted in the EU.
The idea of 'SusECAS - DemoPlant' is simple. An innovative economic and ecological competitive process will enable a sustainable production of amino alcohols in Europe. In the ERC Starting Grant project 'LightCas', Prof. Rother laid the base with an atomic and step-efficient enzymatic 2-step reaction for amino alcohols from inexpensive starting materials (<10-100 €/kg). In 'SusECAS' we will take these innovative synthesis ideas to a new level of industrial application. A multi-gram demonstration plant will enable model-based process evaluation, giving us and our customer’s clear indications of the ecological and economic potential. A systematic market analysis will provide an overview of the competitive structure of the overall market, the market volume and the requirements of potential customers. Supported by business angels, commercialization strategies will be evaluated. In 'SusECAS', we will develop a business plan for commercialization and initiate a step-by-step market introduction of our products and technologies.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryketones
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcohols
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-AG-LS - HORIZON Lump Sum GrantHost institution
52428 Julich
Germany