Method for producing medium-chain dicarboxylic acids, carboxylic acids, and alcohols from long-chain fatty acids

Production of medium-chain dicarboxylic acids from long-chain fatty acids using BVMO-transformed microorganisms

This technology utilizes microorganisms transformed with BVMO enzyme genes derived from Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus to break down long-chain fatty acids (C16–C20) into medium-chain dicarboxylic acids and carboxylic acids or alcohols. By co-introducing hydratase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and ester hydrolase, the multi-step enzymatic reaction is performed within a single cell.

Medium-chain dicarboxylic acids, such as sebacic acid and azelaic acid, are widely used in nylon and polyester monomers, lubricants, and cosmetics, yet they are rarely found in nature. Conventionally, they have been produced by chemically decomposing castor oil under high-temperature, strong-alkaline conditions, which poses significant energy consumption and environmental challenges.

This technology enables the biological production of various medium-chain compounds depending on the raw fatty acid, such as sebacic acid and octanol from oleic acid, or undecanedioic acid and heptanoic acid from ricinoleic acid. It can be applied to the production of bio-based engineering plastic monomers, corrosion inhibitors, and fragrance alcohols, replacing harsh chemical decomposition processes with mild enzymatic ones.

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Key Features:

• Transformed microorganism for producing medium-chain dicarboxylic acids, introduced with a BVMO-coding gene derived from Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus species
• Transformed microorganism that converts long-chain fatty acids into medium-chain compounds by co-introducing genes for hydratase, alcohol dehydrogenase, BVMO, and ester hydrolase
• Step of culturing the transformed microorganism in a medium containing long-chain fatty acids and recovering medium-chain dicarboxylic acids and carboxylic acids or alcohols from the culture
• Method of producing fatty acid derivatives with an ester group in the chain from long-chain fatty acids using BVMO

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