Dialkyl Ether Fermentation Route for Low-Toxic Resin Monomers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biological methods struggle to produce short-chain bioplatform compounds used for synthetic resins due to cytotoxicity issues with short-chain alkane compounds.

Innovation Solution

A method of producing, from fatty alcohol, a monomer for producing synthetic resin, comprising: synthesizing a dialkyl ether compound from fatty alcohol; fermenting the dialkyl ether compound with a genetically recombinant transformant to produce a dialkyl ether compound functionalized at both ends; and decomposing the dialkyl ether compound functionalized at both ends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If short-chain alkane compounds are used as raw materials for producing bioplatform compounds through biological methods, then the production of monomers for synthetic resins is enabled, but cytotoxicity occurs making the process impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction of bioplatform compoundsVSAvoidcytotoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the production process into two distinct stages: first producing long-chain dialkyl ether compounds (C12-C20) from fatty alcohols, then biologically converting these to short-chain bioplatform compounds. This segmentation allows the biological system to handle non-toxic long-chain substrates while ultimately producing the desired short-chain monomers, thereby resolving the cytotoxicity issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces long-chain dialkyl ether compounds as intermediary substances. These intermediaries serve as non-toxic substrates for biological conversion, enabling the production of short-chain bioplatform compounds without exposing the biological system to cytotoxic short-chain alkane compounds directly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If fatty alcohols are directly converted to short-chain bioplatform compounds, then the production process is simplified, but cytotoxicity prevents practical application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process complexityVSAvoidcytotoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The production process is segmented into chemical synthesis of dialkyl ethers followed by biological conversion. This segmentation maintains relative process simplicity while avoiding cytotoxicity by ensuring the biological system processes only long-chain, non-toxic substrates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If long-chain fatty alcohols are used as substrates for biological conversion, then cytotoxicity is avoided, but the production of short-chain monomers becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecytotoxicityVSAvoidproduction of short-chain monomers

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary chemical conversion of fatty alcohols to dialkyl ether compounds before biological conversion. This preliminary action modifies the substrate structure in a way that enables subsequent precise biological conversion to short-chain monomers while maintaining the safety benefits of using long-chain starting materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method allows for the production of various types of monomers, such as hydroxyalkanoic acids, aminoalkanoic acids, alkanediols, and aminoalkanols, which are used to produce synthetic resins like polyamides and polyesters, overcoming the cytotoxicity issues of short-chain alkane compounds.

Implementation Method 1

fermenting the dialkyl ether compound with a genetically recombinant transformant to produce a dialkyl ether compound functionalized at both ends

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

decomposing the dialkyl ether compound functionalized at both ends

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS20250340911A1Method for producing from fatty alcohols monomers for producing various synthetic resins

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 AHN JUNGOH

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for producing, from fatty alcohols, various monomers that are used in the production of synthetic resins.