#aromatic polyesters

One-step production of aromatic polyesters by E. coli strains

KAIST systems metabolic engineers defined a novel strategy for microbial aromatic polyesters production fused with synthetic biology from renewable biomass. The team of Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering produced aromatic polyesters from Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains by applying microbial fermentation, employing direct microbial fermentation from renewable feedstock carbohydrates.

This is the first report to determine a platform strain of engineered E. coli capable of producing environmentally friendly aromatic polyesters. This engineered E. coli strain, if desired, has the potential to be used as a platform strain capable of producing various high-valued aromatic polyesters from renewable biomass. This research was published in Nature Communications on January 8.

Conventionally, aromatic polyesters boast solid strength and heat stability so that there has been a great deal of interest in fermentative production of aromatic polyesters from renewable non-food biomass, but without success.

However, aromatic polyesters are only made by feeding the cells with corresponding aromatic monomers as substrates, and have not been produced by direct fermentation from renewable feedstock carbohydrates such as glucose.

The global liquid crystal polymer market was valued at $1,037.4 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $1,447.9 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 5.7 percent.

The electrical and electronics segment is expected to be the Liquid Crystal Polymer market's largest application. Between 2015 and 2020, the medical category is expected to develop at the fastest rate in the LCPs market. The market is likely to be driven by increased demand for LCPs from end-user sectors such as electrical & electronics, consumer goods, automotive, lighting, medical, and others. Furthermore, the market for LCPs is driven by their better characteristics and the rising availability of engineering resin alternatives for ultra-thin components. The market is projected to be restrained by rising LCP costs, as well as significant warpage and poor warp strength.