APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Biofuel production
- Flavor enhancement
ADVANTAGES:
- Reduced cost
- Reduced variability
- Improved materials handling
ABSTRACT:
Terpenes are biofuel candidates for auto, diesel and jet engines, provided they can be produced at sufficiently high productivity and at competitive cost. These same terpenes can be widely used as flavor candidates and are commercially viable at lower productivity levels.
The monoterpene linalool is a potential fuel candidate that also has dual application as a flavoring molecule. JBEI scientists developed early stage technology to express linalool in yeast as the first step towards developing commercially viable production systems for fuel applications.
Current production systems make linalool at sufficient levels to provide flavoring opportunities in foods and beverages. Monoterpenes provide desirable flavor and aroma profiles in fermented beverages. It is speculated that linalool expressed by JBEI’s engineered yeast may impart useful flavorings to fermented beverages—eliminating the need to use more expensive ingredients. Such an approach could reduce costs, eliminate variability from agriculturally sourced ingredients, and provide materials handling advantages.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Early laboratory demonstration.
STATUS: Published PCT Patent Application US2016/065944 (Publication US2018/0327733). Available for licensing or collaborative research.