Biotechnological synthesis of valuable Lipids and fatty acid derivatives from Agro-food industrial Residues (BioLAR)

The aim of BioLAR project is to develop new biotechnological processes for the synthesis of high-value fatty acid derivatives starting from different side-stream residues produced by the agro-food industry. In particular, the project focuses on the valorization of three different kind of waste materials, namely oleins and gums from refining process of vegetable oils, brewer’s spent grain (BSG) from the beer-brewing process and aqueous effluents deriving from industrial processing of fruits, vegetables, and dairy operations. To this end, BioLAR will also exploit biocatalytic reactions as sustainable alternatives for the classical chemical transformations. The researches will aim to reduce the waste disposal costs on the productive processes and produce new value-added products starting from renewable feedstocks. This approach complies with the Italian PNRR plan that considers the concept of circular economy as a fundamental tool for green transition. Despite their heterogeneous composition, we plan to convert these industrial residues into fatty acid derivatives having an inherent commercial value or into fatty acid derivatives that are starting materials for the synthesis of other compounds of high industrial interest. More specifically, we will exploit the high stereoselectivity of the enzymes hydratases for the development of an integrated process that could transform oleic and linoleic acid, the main components of oleins, into 10-hydroxystearic acid (10-HSA), 10-hydroxy-octadecenoic acid and 13-hydroxy-octadecenoic acid, which are key compounds for the preparation of biodegradable polymers and natural flavours. Concerning BSG and aqueous effluents, we plan to exploit their carbohydrates content as a nutrient for the growth of oleaginous microorganisms, which are able to produce and accumulate large amount of lipids. BSG processing will allow the fermentation of bacterial and filamentous fungi strains, specially selected for their capability in producing branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Finally, properly processed wastewater effluents will be used as media for the growth of microalgae strains that can accumulate high concentration of PUFAs. Overall, the obtained fatty acid derivatives will be further transformed by biocatalytic reactions. Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) will be converted in natural lactones (flavours) by fermentation whereas BCFAs glycerides will be used as starting materials for the preparation of BCFA esters (special biodiesel) and methyl branched aldehydes (natural flavours). Moreover, starting from triglycerides bearing highly unsaturated PUFAs and phospholipids (PLs) recovered from waste gums, we will produce valuable structured lipids and PLs, which possess a potential huge market as dietary supplements.