Integrating anaerobic digestion and engineered yeast to convert food waste into bio-based glycolic acid.
This technical report describes an innovative process to convert organic waste into the high-value biochemical glycolic acid by integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) and metabolic engineering. Conducted under the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership 2019–2021 Biennium, researchers first operated a thermophilic (70°C) AD process to arrest methanogenesis and maximize volatile fatty acid (VFA) production from food waste and dairy manure. Food waste digestion produced more than 50 g/L VFAs, primarily acetate.
The team then engineered the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to convert acetate into glycolic acid through pathway design and compartmentalized metabolic engineering. By deleting competing pathways and expressing glyoxylate reductase in specific cellular organelles, the researchers achieved over 3.6 g/L glycolic acid production from food waste–derived VFAs.
The project demonstrates a hybrid waste-to-biochemical platform with potential to improve anaerobic digestion economics while producing renewable chemicals. The approach provides a scalable technical pathway for converting low-value organic waste streams into higher-value bioproducts.
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Authors
Xiong, X. and Chen, S.
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Suggested Citation
Xiong, X., and Chen, S. 2021. Production of a biochemical from food waste through integration of anaerobic digestion and fermentation processes. Report prepared for the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership, 2019–2021 Biennium: Advancing Organics Management in Washington State. Washington State University.
Year Published
2021
Areas of Focus
Agricultural Technology, Climate & Environment, and Value from Waste
Topics
Energy, Food Systems, Production Systems, and Waste Management
Collaborator
- Washington State University Biological Systems Engineering
