The Third Wave in Biotechnology

A Primer on Industrial Biotechnology

February 6, 2012

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Proteases, which are enzymes that remove protein impurities (such as food and grass stains), are essential components of modern laundry detergents.
Industrial biotechnology can make our food healthier. Glucose oxidase and other enzymes are replacing potassium bromate as an antioxidant in flour in baked bread, due to concerns over carcinogenicity of bromate.
Bio-derived PDO is fermented from corn sugar using a biotech process that consumes less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases compared to petroleum-based processes. More than a dozen products can be made using bio-derived PDO including cosmetics, personal care and home cleaning products.
In the future, industrial biotechnology enzymes called cellulases help us to will produce billions of gallons of ethanol transportation fuel from not only corn kernels but from corn stalks and leaves - also called cellulosic biomass - which will boost economic activity by allowing farmers to harvest two crops from a single field. Biorefineries, which have experienced rapid growth in construction since the Renewable Fuel Standard was enacted in 2005, will also create jobs in rural areas where they are especially needed.
Today, many pharmaceuticals are semi-synthetic molecules, meaning that part of their structure is created a living organism and later modified by chemical processing. Industrial biotechnology uses biocatalysis and water replacement of organic solvents to contribute to cleaner production of such semi-synthetic drugs. These processes are more profitable and greatly reduce hazardous waste production.
High-fructose corn syrup, the sweetener in coke and other soft drinks, is made with the help of enzymes. Before the process of enzyme hydrolysis for starches was created, acid was used to chemically react with corn to turn it into an intense sweetener. Now, enzymes have replaced the acid, and corn can be processed into a larger number of valuable ingredients for food and industrial products.
Industrial biotech processes are being used to make a polymer (PLA) from corn kernels. Research is under way to make PLA from corn stover, wheat straw, rice straw and other agricultural waste products made of cellulose. PLA can be used to make products such as clothing (like the t-shirt in your bag), carpeting, bedding, upholstery, car parts, candy wrappers, cups and golf tees. PLA is also compostable.
A commercially successfully bio-derived polyester plastic is biodegradable PHA, which had been demonstrated in a broad range of applications such as molded products like cell phone cases.
Enzymes can replace chlorine in pulp and paper bleaching, reducing or eliminating the production of toxic chemicals such as dioxin.
Before enzymes were introduced into the process, stonewashed jeans were just that. Jeans were washed with pumice stones from strip mines in huge machines to scour the jeans, a process that weakened or damaged the fabric. Now, this "stonewashing" process is done with enzymes. Enzymes require much less energy for the operation of the process and do not damage the fabric.
Enzymes are now being used for hide degreasing in the leather industry and for metal cleaning in the electroplating industry.
Enzymes are also used to produce ascorbic acid from glucose and in degumming processes during the production of cooking oils.