BioCellection and Conagen join forces to use flexible fermentation to tackle plastic waste

January 13, 2020 | Case Study

BioCellection develops a thermo-oxidative process to convert unrecyclable post-consumer polyethylene film waste. This process breaks down the polyethylene polymer backbone into a mix of dicarboxylic acids with high purity. The company recently partnered with Conagen to develop a strain of yeast that consumes these dicarboxylic acids and converts them to carotenoids for use as high-value food and nutritional ingredients, such as vitamins, antioxidants, and natural colorants. Dicarboxylic acids already have a set of metabolic pathways in yeasts, easing the process of strain development.