Bioplastics from bacteria

A research team in Korea has produced succinic acid from microalgae using genetically-modified bacteria. 

The approach employed an improved version of 'corynebacterium glutamicum', which was used to produce amino acids and hexane. 

“This study was aimed at developing a technique to make next-gen sustainable bio-chemical products that can respond to the depletion of fossil fuels and climate change,”said Dr Woo Han-min, of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, who led the research with Professor Sim Sang-joon of Korea University. “We have presented a breakthrough in the technology for utilising microalgae and we can use it for various products including coating materials, compound plasticisers, urethane and solvents, as well as bioplastics.”