Thermophilic bioprocessing platform for upcycling lactose into value-added chemicals
A thermophilic bioprocessing platform using Caldicellulosiruptor bescii to convert lactose-rich streams into value-added chemicals like acetone and 2,3-butanediol. This approach reduces contamination risks and energy costs, offering scalable production solutions.
Overview
This innovative bioprocessing platform leverages the unique capabilities of Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, an extremely thermophilic anaerobe, to convert lactose-rich waste streams into industrially valuable chemicals, including acetone and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). Operating at high temperatures, this process reduces contamination risks from mesophilic microbes, minimizes energy-intensive sterilization needs, and enables efficient heat integration. These features make the platform a cost-effective solution for continuous fermentation processes, particularly in industries looking to upcycle lactose into high-demand solvents.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes C. bescii, capable of fermenting lactose and other sugars at ~75°C.
- Engineered for the production of value-added chemicals such as acetone and 2,3-BDO.
- High temperature operation limits microbial contamination.
- Reduces energy requirements due to thermophilic conditions and process heat integration.
- Supported by genetic tools and pathway optimization for enhanced metabolic engineering.
- Scalable to industrial levels with SOPs for fermentation up to 20 L, with plans to extend to 100 L pilot reactors.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at a TRL 3, having demonstrated C. bescii's growth on lactose and its metabolic engineering for chemical production in controlled laboratory settings. Ongoing efforts focus on optimizing strain performance and scaling up fermentation processes for pilot-scale applications.
About Princeton University
Princeton University is a private, research-intensive university in Princeton, New Jersey, known for a tightly integrated campus and a globally connected research enterprise. Industry partners engage through a dedicated corporate relations team that brokers sponsored research, consortia, and talent pipelines. Co-located assets include shared user facilities for advanced imaging and nanofabrication, a university-managed U.S. Department of Energy national lab, and a research park that hosts corporate collaborators. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, and NASA. A technology transfer office provides IP strategy, licensing, and startup support, complemented by an affiliated incubator and mentor network.
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