Paper

Engineering Biocatalysts for Production of Commodity Chemicals
K.T. Shanmugam, L.O. Ingram

Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2008;15:8-15 (DOI: 10.1159/000111988)

  Key Words

• Biocatalysts
• Lactic acid
• Succinic acid
• Acetic acid
• Redox
• Bioconversion

  Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive alternate to petroleum for production of both fuels and commodity chemicals. This conversion of biomass would require a new generation of microbial biocatalysts that can convert all the sugars present in the biomass to the desired compounds. In this review, the critical factors that need to be considered in engineering such microbial biocatalysts for cost-effective fermentation of sugars are discussed with specific emphasis on commodity chemicals such as lactic acid, succinic acid and acetic acid.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

K.T. Shanmugam
Department of Microbiology and Cell Science
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611 (USA)
Tel. +1 352 392 2490, Fax +1 352 392 5922, E-Mail shan@ufl.edu

  Article Information

Published online: March 14, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 53