251 286 - Biotech Bayern

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“White Biotechnology”:
The major driving force for innovation in the chemical industry
DR. RUDOLF STAUDIGL
Member of the Managing board
of Wacker Chemie AG
White biotechnology describes the use of methods of
modern biotechnology for industrial processes, mainly in
the chemical industry. Possible products are chemicals
produced using cells, microorganisms or enzymes, as well
as the microorganisms or enzymes themselves.
In recent years, this form of industrial biotechnology has
developed into one of the major driving forces for innovation
in the chemical industry. According to a study by
McKinsey from 2006, sales of white biotechnology products
in 2005 amounted to approximately $ 75 billion worldwide.
Approximately 4-6% of the sales of the German chemical
industry are generated by means of biotechnological
products (DIB 2006). In the coming years, the growth rates
for sales of biotechnological products will be definitely
higher than those for products manufactured by traditional
chemical means. The McKinsey study expects a growth rate
of approximately 11% per year. Wacker Chemie AG has been
quick to identify this trend. For more than 15 years, the
Consortium for Electrochemical Industry, Wacker Chemie's
central research division, has been developing biotechnological
processes for new products.
Most of all the chemicals manufactured industrially today
and practically all bulk basic chemicals are built up from
simple chemical components produced from mineral oil
during the refining process. Biotechnological methods are
mostly used when complex substances are involved, for
example, chiral molecules or molecules with many functional
chemical applications. The more complex the chemistry,
the greater the chance that biotechnology will be used.
A few examples of the successes achieved by “today's”
white biotechnology:
More than two thirds of all commercial chiral synthesis
is carried out using biotechnological means (Blaser &
Schmidt, 2003).
Of nine natural amino acids produced on a large industrial
scale, only two (Glycine, D,L-Methionine) are manufactured
by chemical means.
Vitamin B2, only recently still synthesised from ribose
using a four-stage chemical process is now almost
exclusively produced by biotechnological means.
To an increasing extent, biomaterials, in the form of
performance chemicals with new properties, are conquering
their market, for example, Bacteriorhodopsin,
proteins from spider silk, or Wacker Chemie's cyclodextrins.
The market launch of polylactide means that the entry
into the plastics segment has been achieved on a larger
scale.
Today, Wacker Chemie is successfully using biotechnological
methods in the Fine Chemicals division to produce fine chemicals
for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industry.
A production volume of more than 5000 tons p.a. makes it
the world market leader in the production of cyclodextrins.
A superior fermentative production method for the amino
acid L-Cystein has enabled Wacker Chemie to hold its own
even against strong Chinese competitors.
In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that
there are limits to the use of petrochemical bulk chemicals
for synthesising materials as well as to their energetic use.
Mineral oil is not available in unlimited amounts, the
continuing growth in demand has led to a drastic increase
in prices and the production of oil is limited to a few, in part
politically unstable, producing regions and the unrestrained
use of mineral oil has led to an alarming increase in global