About this Research Topic
The global shift to sustainability and a low-carbon economy has driven the exploration of alternative feedstocks beyond sugars for biomanufacturing. Two main categories of carbon resources can be explored. The first category is C1 gas (CO2, CO, and CH4) and CO2-derived C1-C2 chemicals (e.g., methanol, formate, ethanol, and acetate). The second category includes various waste streams, particularly those rich in carbon, such as food waste, municipal waste, agricultural waste, and industrial waste. Furthermore, other types of waste including plastics, wood, rubbers, and textiles can also be explored.
Here, we wish to cover the latest research in applying biological and biochemical methods to valorize these alternative feedstocks, especially microbial fermentation, and enzymatic approaches. Considering the heterogeneities & toxicity in most of these feedstocks, improving the strain robustness and developing compatible fermentation processes are critical to overcoming these challenges. Therefore, microbial strain improvement by synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, enzyme engineering, novel bioprocess development, and holistic approaches are all critical to maximizing the conversation of these unconventional feedstocks to value-added products. Such technological breakthroughs contribute critically to a more sustainable and low-carbon society.
This research topic is intended for original research articles, methods articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and opinion articles. Topics covered may include the following, but are not limited to:
- Discovery, characterization, and engineering of microbes and enzymes that can use C1 gas (CO2, CO, and CH4), CO2-derived chemicals (methanol, formate, ethanol, and acetate), and waste streams (e.g., food wastes, agricultural waste, plastics).
- Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering research in improving the bioconversion of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Enzyme engineering by directed evolution, high-throughput assay development, and AI-guided engineering methods in improving the bioconversion of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Strain evolution strategy to improve the efficiency and strain robustness of utilizing the unconventional feedstocks and valorizing the waste streams.
- Mutation and/or evolution strategies to improve strain tolerance and robustness in using unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Omics study to uncover new biological pathways and regulations in better use of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- New bioprocess development in using microbes or enzymes to valorize unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Combining biological and chemical methods and processes for the utilization of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
Here, we wish to cover the latest research in applying biological and biochemical methods to valorize these alternative feedstocks, especially microbial fermentation, and enzymatic approaches. Considering the heterogeneities & toxicity in most of these feedstocks, improving the strain robustness and developing compatible fermentation processes are critical to overcoming these challenges. Therefore, microbial strain improvement by synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, enzyme engineering, novel bioprocess development, and holistic approaches are all critical to maximizing the conversation of these unconventional feedstocks to value-added products. Such technological breakthroughs contribute critically to a more sustainable and low-carbon society.
This research topic is intended for original research articles, methods articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and opinion articles. Topics covered may include the following, but are not limited to:
- Discovery, characterization, and engineering of microbes and enzymes that can use C1 gas (CO2, CO, and CH4), CO2-derived chemicals (methanol, formate, ethanol, and acetate), and waste streams (e.g., food wastes, agricultural waste, plastics).
- Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering research in improving the bioconversion of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Enzyme engineering by directed evolution, high-throughput assay development, and AI-guided engineering methods in improving the bioconversion of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Strain evolution strategy to improve the efficiency and strain robustness of utilizing the unconventional feedstocks and valorizing the waste streams.
- Mutation and/or evolution strategies to improve strain tolerance and robustness in using unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Omics study to uncover new biological pathways and regulations in better use of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- New bioprocess development in using microbes or enzymes to valorize unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
- Combining biological and chemical methods and processes for the utilization of unconventional feedstocks and waste streams.
Keywords: CO2, alternative feedstocks, waste valorisation, sustainability, biotechnology, circular economy, microbiology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, fermentation.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
