Biocatalysis fuels future energy and chemicals

According to reports, since 2003, the development of bio-catalysis and bio-conversion technology has been highly valued by the Chinese government. The National Medium- and Long-Term Scientific and Technological Development Plan and the “863” Plan have added special topics on biological catalysis and biotransformation. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and some famous universities have initiated an upsurge of research. Chinese state-owned enterprises such as Sinopec, PetroChina, and COFCO have been attracted and have invested in the production of substances. Industrial technologies for energy, biomaterials and biomass chemicals.

At present, China has a number of representative products in this field, mainly including bulk chemicals, biomass energy, food, and fine chemicals. The output value has reached 350 billion yuan. Many products such as monosodium glutamate, citric acid, penicillin, and vitamin C have reached the world's largest scale of production, occupying an internationally important position. At the same time, China has successfully achieved the transformation and upgrading of many traditional products, and a number of new technologies and products are being applied in large-scale industrialization to show their talents in the fields of energy, materials and chemical manufacturing.

Through many years of construction and accumulation, China has established a new research system and technology platform for biocatalysis and biotransformation, and new strains and enzymes have been transformed and screened using new technologies. This has greatly improved screening efficiency and shortened Cycle. The bio-refinery system, which uses food crops and oil crops as raw materials, forms a new industrial model. The large-scale hydrolysis of cellulosic raw materials to produce fuel ethanol is favored.

In addition, the manufacturing technology platform for fine chemicals in China has been formed, and the fermentation platform for genetically engineered bacteria has matured and improved. Process and equipment technologies have also developed rapidly. For example, simulated moving beds and membrane separation equipment have been introduced into the large-scale industrial production of fructose and nucleotides 1,6-diphosphate, which greatly reduces raw material consumption, water consumption, and pollutant emissions. Reduced costs have produced significant economic benefits.