Bio-Based Polyisoprene Can Mitigate Climate Change and Deforestation in Expanding Rubber Production

Batten, Rahamim; Karanjikar, Mukund; Spatari, Sabrina

doi:10.3390/fermentation7040204

Title: Bio-Based Polyisoprene Can Mitigate Climate Change and Deforestation in Expanding Rubber Production

Journal Article · Thu Sep 23 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Fermentation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation7040204· OSTI ID:1822532

Batten, Rahamim; Karanjikar, Mukund;

Biomass is a promising renewable feedstock to produce polyisoprene for the rubber industry. Through metabolic engineering, sugars derived from pretreated and hydrolyzed cellulose and hemicellulose can be directly fermented to isoprene to produce rubber. Here we investigate the life cycle environmental impact of isoprene fermentation to produce bio-polyisoprene from agricultural residues (of Zea mays L.). Results show that the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of bio-polyisoprene (−4.59 kg CO2e kg−1) is significantly lower than that of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and synthetic rubber (−0.79 and 2.41 kg CO2e kg−1, respectively), while supporting a circular biogenic carbon economy. We found the land use intensity of bio-polyisoprene to be 0.25 ha metric ton−1, which is 84% lower than that from rubber tree plantations. We compare the direct fermentation to isoprene results with indirect fermentation to isoprene through the intermediate, methyl butyl ether, where dehydration to isoprene is required. The direct fermentation of isoprene reduces reaction steps and unit operations, an expected outcome when employing process intensification, but our results show additional energy conservation and reduced contribution to climate change. Among the ReCiPe life cycle environmental impact metrics evaluated, air emission related impacts are high for bio-polyisoprene compared to those for natural and synthetic rubber. Those impacts can be reduced with air emission controls during production. All other metrics showed an improvement for bio-polyisoprene compared to natural and synthetic rubber.

View Journal Article

Cite

Export

Save

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0013230

OSTI ID:: 1822532

Journal Information:: Fermentation, Journal Name: Fermentation Vol. 7 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 2311-5637

Publisher:: MDPI AGCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Switzerland

Language:: English

References (41)

Efficient Route for the Production of Isoprene via Decarboxylation of Bioderived Mevalonolactone Heracleous, Eleni; Pachatouridou, Eleni; Louie, Lin ACS Catalysis, Vol. 10, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c01438	journal	July 2020
Shale Gas Revolution: An Opportunity for the Production of Biobased Chemicals? Bruijnincx, Pieter C. A.; Weckhuysen, Bert M. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Vol. 52, Issue 46 https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201305058	journal	October 2013
Bidentate forms of β-triketimines: syntheses, characterization and outstanding performance of enamine–diimine cobalt complexes in isoprene polymerization Alnajrani, Mohammed N.; Mair, Francis S. Dalton Transactions, Vol. 45, Issue 25 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6DT01064D	journal	January 2016
Intensive Data and Knowledge-Driven Approach for Sustainability Analysis: Application to Lignocellulosic Waste Valorization Processes Belaud, Jean-Pierre; Prioux, Nancy; Vialle, Claire Waste and Biomass Valorization https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01509-8	journal	July 2021
Guayule as an alternative source of natural rubber: A comparative life cycle assessment with Hevea and synthetic rubber Soratana, Kullapa; Rasutis, Daina; Azarabadi, Habib Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 159 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.05.070	journal	August 2017
Chemical synthesis rewriting of a bacterial genome to achieve design flexibility and biological functionality Venetz, Jonathan E.; Del Medico, Luca; Wölfle, Alexander Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 116, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1818259116	journal	April 2019
Biosynthesis of isoprene in Escherichia coli via methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway Zhao, Yaru; Yang, Jianming; Qin, Bo Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 90, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3199-1	journal	April 2011
Deforestation for oil palm: impact on microbially mediated methane and nitrous oxide emissions, and soil bacterial communities Kaupper, Thomas; Hetz, Stefanie; Kolb, Steffen Biology and Fertility of Soils, Vol. 56, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-019-01421-3	journal	December 2019
The ecoinvent database version 3 (part I): overview and methodology Wernet, Gregor; Bauer, Christian; Steubing, Bernhard The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 21, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1087-8	journal	April 2016
Possibility of artocarpus heterophyllus latex as an alternative source for natural rubber Bhadra, Sambhu; Mohan, Nitin; Parikh, Gaurang Polymer Testing, Vol. 79 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2019.106066	journal	October 2019
How to assess the potential of emerging green technologies? Towards a prospective environmental and techno-economic assessment framework Thomassen, Gwenny; Van Dael, Miet; Van Passel, Steven Green Chemistry, Vol. 21, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1039/C9GC02223F	journal	January 2019
Alternative sources of natural rubber Mooibroek, H.; Cornish, K. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 53, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051627	journal	April 2000
Metabolic engineering for improved fermentation of pentoses by yeasts Jeffries, T. W.; Jin, Y. -S. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 63, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-003-1450-0	journal	May 2004
Similarities and differences in rubber biochemistry among plant species Cornish, Katrina Phytochemistry, Vol. 57, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00097-8	journal	August 2001
Protecting tropical forests from the rapid expansion of rubber using carbon payments Warren-Thomas, Eleanor M.; Edwards, David P.; Bebber, Daniel P. Nature Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03287-9	journal	March 2018
A synthetic oscillatory network of transcriptional regulators Elowitz, Michael B.; Leibler, Stanislas Nature, Vol. 403, Issue 6767 https://doi.org/10.1038/35002125	journal	January 2000
Economic Analysis of Isoprene Production from Good Year Scientific Process Asghar, Usman; Masoom, Ayesha; Javed, Adan American Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol. 8, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20200803.12	journal	January 2020
Synthesis and solution properties of linear, four-branched, and six-branched star polyisoprenes Hadjichristidis, N.; Roovers, J. E. L. Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Edition, Vol. 12, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.1974.180121211	journal	December 1974
Greenhouse gas emissions from rubber industry in Thailand Jawjit, Warit; Kroeze, Carolien; Rattanapan, Suwat Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 18, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.12.003	journal	March 2010
Synergy between methylerythritol phosphate pathway and mevalonate pathway for isoprene production in Escherichia coli Yang, Chen; Gao, Xiang; Jiang, Yu Metabolic Engineering, Vol. 37 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2016.05.003	journal	September 2016
Anaerobic fermentation of glycerol byEscherichia coli: A new platform for metabolic engineering Dharmadi, Yandi; Murarka, Abhishek; Gonzalez, Ramon Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 94, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.21025	journal	January 2006
Lignocellulosic biomass: a sustainable platform for the production of bio-based chemicals and polymers Isikgor, Furkan H.; Becer, C. Remzi Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 6, Issue 25 https://doi.org/10.1039/C5PY00263J	journal	January 2015
Renewable Rubber and Jet Fuel from Biomass: Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Land Use Trade-offs in Energy and Material Markets Riazi, Bahar; Karanjikar, Mukund; Spatari, Sabrina ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 6, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b03098	journal	September 2018
Life cycle assessment of the production of hydrogen and transportation fuels from corn stover via fast pyrolysis Zhang, Yanan; Hu, Guiping; Brown, Robert C. Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 8, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/025001	journal	April 2013
Systems metabolic engineering of microorganisms for natural and non-natural chemicals Lee, Jeong Wook; Na, Dokyun; Park, Jong Myoung Nature Chemical Biology, Vol. 8, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.970	journal	May 2012
Cost and greenhouse gas emission tradeoffs of alternative uses of lignin for second generation ethanol Pourhashem, Ghasideh; Adler, Paul R.; McAloon, Andrew J. Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 8, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/025021	journal	May 2013
Construction of a genetic toggle switch in Escherichia coli Gardner, Timothy S.; Cantor, Charles R.; Collins, James J. Nature, Vol. 403, Issue 6767 https://doi.org/10.1038/35002131	journal	January 2000
Current trends of rubber plantation expansion may threaten biodiversity and livelihoods Ahrends, Antje; Hollingsworth, Peter M.; Ziegler, Alan D. Global Environmental Change, Vol. 34 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.06.002	journal	September 2015
A life cycle perspective on land use and project economics of electricity from wind and anaerobic digestion Ciliberti, Carlo; Jordaan, Sarah M.; Smith, Stephen V. Energy Policy, Vol. 89 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2015.11.015	journal	February 2016
Environmental Assessment of Emerging Technologies: Recommendations for Prospective LCA Arvidsson, Rickard; Tillman, Anne‐Marie; Sandén, Björn A. Journal of Industrial Ecology, Vol. 22, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12690	journal	October 2017
Using GaBi 3 to perform life cycle assessment and life cycle engineering Spatari, Sabrina; Betz, Michael; Florin, Harald The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 6, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02977842	journal	March 2001
Phenotypic diversity of USDA guayule germplasm collection grown under different irrigation conditions Luo, Zinan; Abdel-Haleem, Hussein Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 142 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111867	journal	December 2019
Evaluating environmental performance of concentrated latex production in Thailand Jawjit, Warit; Pavasant, Prasert; Kroeze, Carolien Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 98 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.016	journal	July 2015
Life cycle environmental and cost evaluation of renewable diesel production Larnaudie, Valeria; Bule, Mahesh; San, Ka-Yiu Fuel, Vol. 279 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.118429	journal	November 2020
A review of thermochemical upgrading of pyrolysis bio‐oil: Techno‐economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and technology readiness Sorunmu, Yetunde; Billen, Pieter; Spatari, Sabrina GCB Bioenergy, Vol. 12, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12658	journal	November 2019
The contribution of enzymes and process chemicals to the life cycle of ethanol MacLean, Heather L.; Spatari, Sabrina Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 4, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/4/1/014001	journal	January 2009
Soil Carbon Stocks Decrease following Conversion of Secondary Forests to Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Plantations de Blécourt, Marleen; Brumme, Rainer; Xu, Jianchu PLoS ONE, Vol. 8, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069357	journal	July 2013
Life cycle evaluation of emerging lignocellulosic ethanol conversion technologies Spatari, Sabrina; Bagley, David M.; MacLean, Heather L. Bioresource Technology, Vol. 101, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.067	journal	January 2010
Chemical and biological-based isoprene production: Green metrics Morais, Ana R. C.; Dworakowska, Sylwia; Reis, Alberto Catalysis Today, Vol. 239 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2014.05.033	journal	January 2015
Lignin valorization beyond energy use: has lignin's time finally come? Xu, Chunbao Charles; Dessbesell, Luana; Zhang, Yongsheng Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, Vol. 15, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.2172	journal	November 2020
Machine learning applications in systems metabolic engineering Kim, Gi Bae; Kim, Won Jun; Kim, Hyun Uk Current Opinion in Biotechnology, Vol. 64 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2019.08.010	journal	August 2020

Similar Records

Natural rubber (NR) biosynthesis: perspectives from polymer chemistry

Book · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · OSTI ID:1822532

Barkakaty, Balaka

Unraveling the mystery of natural rubber biosynthesis. Part II. Composition and growth of in vitro natural rubber using high-resolution size exclusion chromatography

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Rubber Chemistry and Technology · OSTI ID:1822532

Chiang, Cheng Ching K.; Barkakaty, Balaka; Puskas, Judit E.; +4 more

Transcriptome analysis of rubber biosynthesis in guayule (Parthenium argentatum gray)

Journal Article · Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 2019 · BMC Plant Biology · OSTI ID:1822532

Stonebloom, Solomon H.; Scheller, Henrik Vibe

Title: Bio-Based Polyisoprene Can Mitigate Climate Change and Deforestation in Expanding Rubber Production

Citation Formats

References (41)

Similar Records

Related Subjects