Objectives

So far, commercial bio-based production of PHA has only been achieved to a limited extent. The main objective of LignoPlas is the identification of the technical application potential of converting lignin, which can be derivatized by robust oxidation catalysts (such as laccases) to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with engineered mutant strains of bacteria with higher growth and PHA yield from lignin or laccase-derivatized lignin compared to wildtype developed.
An important goal of the project is the combination of the two biocatalytic processes – lignin pretreatment with laccases and conversion of the modified lignin to PHA – combined with the scale-up to the pilot plant. The evaluation of aspects like downstream processing or fermentation kinetics will be needed in a future commercial production of PHA from lignin.