Fermentation processes provide essential pathways for many chemicals, but are often hampered by high costs and low yields due to CO₂ losses. To overcome these concerns, ZymoChem (San Leandro, Calif.; ) has developed the patented Carbon Conservation fermentation technology. “Typically, microbes utilizing naturally occurring pathways lose at least one-third of the carbon inputs in the form of CO₂. To avoid this, our proprietary microbes utilize a redesigned biosynthetic pathway that results in a variety of products without losing CO₂. Because of this development, the process is more efficient in the use of feedstocks, resulting in a 30–50% increase in theoretical yields,” explains Harshal Chokhawala, CEO of ZymoChem.

While the platform can operate with a variety of renewable feedstocks, including crude glycerol and plant-based dextrose, to make a wide range of products, ZymoChem is focused on producing bio-based and biodegradable superabsorbent polymers, precursors for bio-based nylons, coatings and textile materials. While the platform’s output is dynamic, it relies on the same initial steps for all products. “The Carbon Conservation biosynthetic pathway involves a sequence of 7–12 non-naturally occurring reactions. The first seven are shared regardless of product, and by tailoring the remaining steps, different products can be created. We add proprietary chemistry on top of our biological platform to create specific performance attributes, including biodegradability,” says Chokhawala.

Because ZymoChem’s fermentation process is conducted in an environment that requires little or no air, the complexities traditionally associated with mass- and heat-transfer in commercial-scale fermenters are greatly reduced, enabling the Carbon Conservation technology to operate efficiently at higher scales. “Additionally, operating in an anaerobic environment does not require energy for aeration or cooling, as in other fermentation processes, so our costs are further lowered to either parity, or in some cases, below the costs of incumbent fossil-derived products,” adds Chokhawala.