Betamethylvalerolactone Downstream Processing and Application Development

Lead organization: Valerian Materials

Project partners: National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, University of Minnesota, Scientific Bioprocessing

Year launched: 2022

Valerian Materials (VM), an emerging company focusing on the development of bio-derived and sustainable polymers, will lead a partnership with BioMADE members that will optimize fermentation and downstream processing of betamethylvalerolactone (BMVL), conversion of this cyclic monomer to poly(BMVL) and development of products based on this polymer, and establishment of the chemistry and engineering required to recycle or decompose these sustainable materials. BMVL will be produced by fermentation of biomass at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at the shaker flask to 5-liter scale using a propriety GMO E Coli strain that generates high titers of the compound mevalonate. Optimization of this process will be aided by a collaboration with Scientific Bioprocessing Inc. (SBI), which will provide equipment and expertise related to bioreactor monitoring, analysis, and control. The product mevalonate will be converted to the cyclic compound anhydromevalolactone (AMVL) and then purified using innovative extraction and membrane-based separation strategies. Refinement of this downstream process at NCERC is pivotal for subsequent scale-up to commercial practice. Finally, AMVL will be converted to BMVL by VM using established catalytic hydrogenation technology. Research at the University of Minnesota will target the conversion of BMVL to amorphous polyols, which can be incorporated into polyurethane elastomers and foams, and polymerized with other sustainable and bio-derived monomers such as lactide to generate block copolymers for use as elastomers and adhesives. Depolymerization of pol(BMVL), which generates relatively pure BMVL for reuse, will be characterized, along with an investigation of the composting characteristics of this polyester.

Funding source: BioMADE Project Call 2.0

Related news:

• Valerian Materials, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center and Scientific Bioprocessing Partner to Advance Novel Biobased Products

• Scientific Industries Announces Research Collaboration Incorporating DOTS(TM), The New Sensor Platform to Digitally Simplify Bioprocessing