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Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme
AGRE-0011: Production of a precursor (rhamnose) for the synthesis of flavouring by using a starch derivative |
Science Background
L-rhamnose is a natural sugar found in several animal, plant and bacterial polysaccharides. Commercially available rhamnose is produced by chemical hydrolysis of arabic and karaya gums, or from rutin or citrus fruits which contain by weight 10-30% rhamnose. Rhamnose is a raw material for the chemical synthesis of furaneol, a strawberry flavour. At present this is dependent on chemical synthesis, whilst direct extraction from fruits is costly and subject to seasonal variations in supply volume and quality.
Objectives
The main objective was to produce rhamnose as a precursor for the synthesis of flavourings by fermentation. In addition to being found in plants, it is present in some bacterial heteropolysaccharides. In fact, a very diverse range of microorganisms (including gram-positive and gram-negative, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as unicellular algae and fungi) produce such polysaccharides, although the specific composition and properties of these vary from species to species. The optimization of this process required improvements in yield (an increase in the concentration of rhamnose-containing polysaccharide to at least 10 g/l) by use of a mutation programme and by improved culture conditions. Other aspects of importance were methods of harvesting, extraction and purification, under conditions that would meet legislative guidelines defining natural aromas.
Significant changes and results since end of ECLAIR
Since 1996, BioEurope has been the R&D laboratory for the Solabia group and is totally under Solabia’s control. Commercialization has not taken place, mainly due to a drop in price of rhamnose from traditional sources. Research has continued, concentrated on new saccharides for cosmetic applications due to Solabia’s interest in this field.
Results
At end of this ECLAIR project
The coordinators BioEurope, France screened and selected microorganisms. This resulted in the identification of an organism suitable for the biotechnological production of a polysaccharide containing 50% rhamnose. As a result of this project worldwide patents were deposited by BioEurope covering a strain of the bacteria Klebsiella terrigena and the production process for obtaining an exopolysaccharide containing 50% rhamnose (EP 88 403131.1; F 2 624 522; SP 63-311047/88; US 281.542). The project supplied polysaccharide and polysaccharide hydrolysate to a number of partners for evaluation. This polysaccharide can be used as is or, after hydrolysis, as a source of rhamnose for the synthesis of natural aroma compounds such as furaneol. There were plans to optimize the complete process at industrial scale.
Current position
Further in-house research has been carried out in the BioEurope laboratory, aimed at creating new saccharides for cosmetic applications, due to Solabia’s interest in this field. This includes investigations of applications of oligosaccharides rich in rhamnose for cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. These include enzymatic synthesis and controlled hydrolysis of complex oligosaccharides, especially of microbial origin; purification and characterization by chromatography of oligosaccharides; and determination of the structure and molecular weight of oligosaccharides effective for protection of skin from microbial infection. Studies into development and optimization of fermentation conditions for production of polysaccharides rich in rhamnose were followed by research into the best purification conditions for the polysaccharide, adapted to the operational requirements in cosmetology.
Impact
Commercial
The project has not lead to a commercial product. This is mainly due to the decrease in the price of rhamnose from traditional sources that made the product too expensive for commercial applications.
Associated
Although activities are not directly related to the research from ECLAIR, BioEurope has used much of the technical and scientific knowledge received during the project.
Contacts
Author
BioEurope
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by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
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