FDCA Production From Furfural: Integrating Gluconobacter oxydans with UbiD-UbiX Carboxylation System
(2026) KBTM01 20261Biotechnology (MSc)
Biotechnology (M.Sc.Eng.)
- Abstract
- Furfural, a renewable platform chemical derived from hemi cellulosic fraction of the lignocellulosic biomass, is a promising precursor for the sustainable production of 2,5- furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an important bio-based alternative to terephthalic acid. In this study, we utilized the oxidative capacity of Gluconobacter oxydans to oxidize furfural to 2-furoic acid and employed the UbiD-UbiX decarboxylase system expressed in E. coli to carboxylate 2-furoic acid, thereby investigating a biocatalytic strategy to produce FDCA using furfural as a feedstock. The oxidative activity of G. oxydans toward furfural was evaluated under different cultivation conditions. In parallel, three candidate UbiD decarboxylases and one UbiX... (More)
- Furfural, a renewable platform chemical derived from hemi cellulosic fraction of the lignocellulosic biomass, is a promising precursor for the sustainable production of 2,5- furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an important bio-based alternative to terephthalic acid. In this study, we utilized the oxidative capacity of Gluconobacter oxydans to oxidize furfural to 2-furoic acid and employed the UbiD-UbiX decarboxylase system expressed in E. coli to carboxylate 2-furoic acid, thereby investigating a biocatalytic strategy to produce FDCA using furfural as a feedstock. The oxidative activity of G. oxydans toward furfural was evaluated under different cultivation conditions. In parallel, three candidate UbiD decarboxylases and one UbiX prenyltransferase were selected and evaluated through bioinformatic and structural analyses, expressed in Escherichia coli, and evaluated for reversible carboxylation activity using E. coli as whole-cell biocatalyst. Subsequently, a combined reaction system involving G. oxydans and E. coli was employed, demonstrating the feasibility of a one-pot reaction from furfural to FDCA. The results demonstrated that the growth of G. oxydans and their ability to oxidize furfural are influenced by the composition of the culture medium used to grow the bacteria, and FDCA production from 2-furoic acid was strongly affected by carbon dioxide availability and reaction equilibrium. Increasing bicarbonate concentration and introducing CO₂ bubbling significantly improved FDCA formation, achieving a maximum conversion of approximately 25%. Molecular simulation further suggested that enzyme conformational flexibility may influence substrate accessibility and catalytic performance. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining oxidation and enzymatic carboxylation for FDCA biosynthesis and provides insights for developing sustainable biocatalytic systems for biomass valorization. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- We meet plastic every day: drinks bottles, food packaging, and even some car parts all rely on a material known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Thanks to its excellent qualities, PET has become one of the most common plastics in modern life.
However, few people realize that one of the key raw materials for this plastic—terephthalic acid (TPA)—is still primarily produced from non-renewable fossil resources such as oil. As concerns about plastic pollution and resource depletion grow, people are beginning to wonder: will the plastics of the future be able to do without oil?
Among the many candidate materials, 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is regarded as a highly promising ‘green alternative’. It can also be used to manufacture... (More) - We meet plastic every day: drinks bottles, food packaging, and even some car parts all rely on a material known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Thanks to its excellent qualities, PET has become one of the most common plastics in modern life.
However, few people realize that one of the key raw materials for this plastic—terephthalic acid (TPA)—is still primarily produced from non-renewable fossil resources such as oil. As concerns about plastic pollution and resource depletion grow, people are beginning to wonder: will the plastics of the future be able to do without oil?
Among the many candidate materials, 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is regarded as a highly promising ‘green alternative’. It can also be used to manufacture polyester plastics, but unlike traditional raw materials, FDCA can be derived from plant biomass, such as natural components found in agricultural waste and wood. This means that in the future, the raw materials for plastics may come not only from underground oil reserves, but also from crop residues and wood waste.
Furfural is an important chemical compound that can be obtained can be obtained from agricultural residue like wheat straw; as its structure bears some resemblance to that of FDCA, it is considered an ideal starting point to produce FDCA. In this study, we sought to utilise microorganisms to carry out this conversion process. By genetically engineering Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gluconobacter oxydans (G. oxydans) and combining with the natural metabolic capabilities of G. oxydans, we established a bioconversion method for the stepwise conversion of furfural to FDCA. Unlike the high-temperature, high-pressure reactions commonly found in the traditional chemical industry, microorganisms can carry out complex chemical transformations under much milder conditions. Although this technology is still some way off large-scale industrial application, it offers a new possibility: In the future, it may be possible to use bacteria to gradually convert agricultural waste into key raw materials needed for plastic production, thereby reducing reliance on fossil resources and opening up new possibilities for utilizing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which will help promote more sustainable methods of chemical production. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9233925
- author
- Luo, Yuchen LU
- supervisor
-
- Mohamed Ismail LU
- Sang-Hyun Pyo LU
- organization
- course
- KBTM01 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Lignocellulosic, Biomass, Valorization, Metabolic, Engineering, Biocatalytic, Carboxylation, FDCA, Biosynthesis, Gluconobacter oxydans, Biotechnology
- language
- English
- id
- 9233925
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-10 14:38:06
- date last changed
- 2026-06-10 14:38:06
@misc{9233925,
abstract = {{Furfural, a renewable platform chemical derived from hemi cellulosic fraction of the lignocellulosic biomass, is a promising precursor for the sustainable production of 2,5- furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an important bio-based alternative to terephthalic acid. In this study, we utilized the oxidative capacity of Gluconobacter oxydans to oxidize furfural to 2-furoic acid and employed the UbiD-UbiX decarboxylase system expressed in E. coli to carboxylate 2-furoic acid, thereby investigating a biocatalytic strategy to produce FDCA using furfural as a feedstock. The oxidative activity of G. oxydans toward furfural was evaluated under different cultivation conditions. In parallel, three candidate UbiD decarboxylases and one UbiX prenyltransferase were selected and evaluated through bioinformatic and structural analyses, expressed in Escherichia coli, and evaluated for reversible carboxylation activity using E. coli as whole-cell biocatalyst. Subsequently, a combined reaction system involving G. oxydans and E. coli was employed, demonstrating the feasibility of a one-pot reaction from furfural to FDCA. The results demonstrated that the growth of G. oxydans and their ability to oxidize furfural are influenced by the composition of the culture medium used to grow the bacteria, and FDCA production from 2-furoic acid was strongly affected by carbon dioxide availability and reaction equilibrium. Increasing bicarbonate concentration and introducing CO₂ bubbling significantly improved FDCA formation, achieving a maximum conversion of approximately 25%. Molecular simulation further suggested that enzyme conformational flexibility may influence substrate accessibility and catalytic performance. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining oxidation and enzymatic carboxylation for FDCA biosynthesis and provides insights for developing sustainable biocatalytic systems for biomass valorization.}},
author = {{Luo, Yuchen}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{FDCA Production From Furfural: Integrating Gluconobacter oxydans with UbiD-UbiX Carboxylation System}},
year = {{2026}},
}