Waste valorization

Waste valorization for the production of bioplastics is a key strategy within the circular economy, which seeks to reduce our dependence on fossil resources and the environmental impact of organic waste. This approach utilizes agricultural, urban, and industrial residues as carbon source for the production of biodegradable polymers thanks to microbial biotechnology.

In the POLYBIO group, we use this strategy to convert carbon-rich wastes into metabolic precursors used by microorganisms to synthesize target compounds such as PHA and wax esters. We use bacteria capable of assimilating substrates such as sugars, fatty acids, lignin-derived aromatic compounds, or even mixed gases like syngas and C1 gases (e.g. methane and CO₂), and transforming them into high value-added biopolymers.

Furthermore, we use metabolic engineering to design optimized microorganisms and improve the efficiency of the conversion of residues of varying complexity into bioplastics, maximizing the yields and quality of the final material. In this way, low-cost and difficult to manage wastes can be converted into new materials with application as biodegradable packaging, medical devices, and sustainable textiles.

The use of residues as feedstock for the synthesis of bioplastics reduces production costs, decreases pollution and closes the materials’ loop. This strategy represents an innovative and sustainable solution for the plastic industry, aligned with the transition towards more environmentally-friendly and renewable materials.

Relevant publications:

Hernández-Herreros, N., Rodríguez, A., Galán, B., Prieto, M. A. (2024) Boosting hydrogen production in Rhodospirillum rubrum by syngas-driven photoheterotrophic adaptive evolution. Bioresour Technol. Aug;406:130972. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130972.

Hernández-Herreros, N., Rivero-Buceta, V., Pardo, I., Prieto, M. A. (2024) Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(lactic acid) from industrial wastewater by wild-type Cupriavidus necator H16. Water Res. 2024 Feb 1;249:120892. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.

Mihalyi, S., Sykacek, E., Campano, C., Hernández-Herreros, N., Rodríguez, A., Mautner, A., Prieto, M. A., Quartinello, F., Guebitz, G. M. (2024) Bio-upcycling of viscose/polyamide textile blends waste to biopolymers and fibers. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 208:107712.