System Development/Field Test/ Commercialization

Biodegradable sorbent that captures nutrients in water. Phosphorus and nitrogen are nutrients in water that act as fertilizers for aquatic plants. Eutrophication occurs when there is an overabundance of these nutrients. Nutrient pollution occurs when eutrophication produces an excessive amount of algae. These algae disrupt ecosystems by lowering the amount of dissolved oxygen in water, reducing water quality, turning the water green, causing a foul smell, blocking sunlight, and harming animals and humans who consume it.

Kalion, Inc., and MIT have developed a microbial fermentation process for the production of glucaric acid. Using a novel biosynthetic pathway, Kalion converts myo-inositol to glucaric acid at nearly 100% yield. Conventional production of glucaric acid is harsh, toxic, and non-selective. Glucaric acid can potentially replace environmentally polluting chemicals, such as phosphate, as a biodegradable, non-toxic, and sugar-derived alternative. This fermentation process produces high-purity, low-cost glucaric acid.