White biotechnology, or industrial biotechnology, involves the use of enzymes and microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria, in order to improve or replace existing chemical production processes.
“We’re trying to develop a biotech production process at a competitive cost without using fossil resources,” explained Dr Johannes Panten, project leader and director of Technology Scouting at Symrise.
According to Symrise, the processes involved are advantageous as often they do not produce by-products or involve the use of toxic chemicals.
Bio-Industry 2021 program
Symrise is part of the Bio-Industry 2021 program sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) which focuses on R&D projects for new products and processes in white biotechnology.
As part of this project, Symrise is working on the generation of musk aroma chemicals (which are currently synthesized from petrochemicals but were originally from the now endangered musk deer) from renewable resources. Musk aroma chemicals impact upon the characteristics of a fragrance, and can also effect how long a fragrance will linger, the company said.
Symrise is focusing on macrocyclic compounds which are more readily biodegradable and with more highly desirable properties than other compounds, according to the report.
Entering unknown territory
According to Panten, the team ‘came a long way’ with the project in 2009, and is currently exploring previously unknown territory.
“The natural biosynthesis mechanism is utterly unknown…right now we are working on using our modern methods of molecular biology to clarify the metabolic pathways in natural producers and on translating these pathways into biotech processes,” he said.
Also collaborating on the research is a network of four working groups; including professors from Darmstadt and Dresden universities and enzyme specialists from biotechnology company c-Lecta.