Descripción del proyecto
Fábricas celulares microbianas para compuestos químicos fluorados
Los materiales con flúor son importantísimos en el mundo moderno, con aplicaciones en industrias como la electrónica, la sanidad, la automoción y los dispositivos vestibles. En la actualidad, estos compuestos químicos fluorados se sintetizan exclusivamente con métodos químicos agresivos. El objetivo del proyecto SinFonia, financiado con fondos europeos, es desarrollar una alternativa más sostenible mediante la modificación de la bacteria estable «Pseudomonas putida» para transformarla en una fábrica celular que produzca monómeros y polímeros fluorados. El equipo del proyecto introducirá compuestos químicos fluorados en estas bacterias mediante ingeniería metabólica, lo que permitirá sortear las reacciones químicas convencionales empleadas en la industria. Los compuestos objetivo son una familia completa de poliésteres fluorados con propiedades fisicoquímicas y materiales mejoradas para su empleo en superficies autolimpiantes, materiales de recubrimiento de baja energía superficial, lubricantes de base biológica, membranas de pilas de combustibles y materiales antiincrustantes.
Objetivo
Nature has hardly evolved biochemical reactions involving fluorine (F), the most abundant halogen on Earth. Organic compounds containing F (fluorochemicals) are, however, extremely relevant from an industrial point of view. Fluoropolymers are the main fluorochemicals in the market worldwide, and are exclusively synthesized using chemical methods. Moreover, current fluorination technologies usually involve corrosive and toxic reagents that have a negative impact on the environment. Designing sustainable bioprocesses based on alternative and safer fluorinating agents from renewable substrates is thus a long-sought-after, yet unfulfilled goal. SinFonia proposes to engineer the metabolically-versatile bacterium Pseudomonas putida to execute biofluorinations for generating novel fluoropolymers from renewable substrates. P. putida KT2440, a non-pathogenic soil bacterium, serves as an ideal microbial platform for F-dependent biochemical reactions due to its extraordinary resistance to harsh and stressful operating conditions. SinFonia will exploit natural selection to enhance bioproduction through a smart strain engineering approach in which bacterial growth will be coupled to biofluorination. Our target compounds are a whole family of fluorinated polyesters with enhanced physicochemical and material properties, with uses as self-cleaning surfaces, low-surface-energy coatings, bio-based lubricants, membranes for fuel cells, and anti-fouling materials. The versatile P. putida strains engineered during the project can be easily adapted to synthesize other added-value fluorochemicals. Unlike chemical processes, the source of F in our system will be NaF, an inexpensive and safe salt, and sugars as the main carbon source. In-depth analysis of all the environmental and economic benefits of the new fluorination technology, and interactive communication of social benefits associated with target products, are essential components of SinFonia.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringtribologylubrication
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryhalogens
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Tema(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-NMBP-BIO-2018-two-stage
Régimen de financiación
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinador
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Dinamarca