Production and properties of 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid biosynthesized from lignin for use as a unique platform chemical and as an alkali metal chelator for disaster remediation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24780172
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: YUICHIRO Otsuka 独立行政法人森林総合研究所, バイオマス化学研究領域, 主任研究員 (80455261)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 放射性セシウム / 除染 / 代謝工学 / 2-ピロン4,6-ジカルボン酸 / リグニン / キレーター / Sphingobium / 錯体化学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have established a production system for 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) as a novel platform chemical from lignin via fermentation by genetically-modified bacterial. We have also successfully synthesized various polymers such as polyesters, polyamides and polyurethanes from PDC. Unexpectedly, we have also now discovered a unique function of PDC as an alkali metal chelator. In this research, PDC preferentially chelated 133Cs as compared to other Alkali metals. 133Cs was precipitated as a Cs-PDC complex. PDC was able to remove about 90% of Cs in a mixed Na-Cs solution, even when the concentration ratio of Na and Cs was 10 to 1. Comparing the structures of the Cs-PDC and Na-PDC complexes, the Cs-PDC complex does not contain water and it is larger than the Na-PDC complex. The size and hydrophobic nature of the Cs-PDC complex explains why it more readily precipitates in water compared to the Na-PDC complex.

Free Research Field

代謝工学、微生物学、木材化学