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(Re)visiting the Sustainability Thresholds: Are Product Titers of 1 g L -1 Enough for (Bio)chemical Processes?

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Title: (Re)visiting the Sustainability Thresholds: Are Product Titers of 1 g L -1 Enough for (Bio)chemical Processes?
Authors: Domínguez de María P; Sustainable Momentum, SL. Av. Ansite 3, 4-6, 35011, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
Source: ChemSusChem [ChemSusChem] 2025 Nov 24; Vol. 18 (22), pp. e202501831. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 01.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Wiley-VCH Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 101319536 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1864-564X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 18645631 NLM ISO Abbreviation: ChemSusChem Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Weinheim : Wiley-VCH
MeSH Terms: Global Warming*, Carbon Dioxide/chemistry ; Recycling ; Solvents/chemistry ; Wastewater/chemistry
Abstract: In a previous work, equations were reported to estimate global warming potential (GWP, kg CO 2  kg product -1 ) of (bio)catalytic reactions, using substrate loadings and conversions. The approach is useful for reactions with similar mass-to-mass proportion (substrate to product). For processes with mass-to-mass change, or for fermentations, where the relationship substrate to product is elusive, GWP equations using product titers are more straightforward. This article introduces such product-titers-based GWP equations estimating the CO 2 released from energy (up- and downstream), as well as from the waste treatment, namely wastewater and solvents. Equations are applied to discuss whether aqueous (bio)transformations with product titers of 1 g L -1 and extractive downstream are sustainable. When effluents are not recycled, >6000 kg CO 2  kg product -1 is generated, because large aqueous media (1000 L) and solvents (1000-3000 L) are needed for one product kilogram. Even when solvent and water effluents are almost completely recycled (95%), >100 kg CO 2  kg product -1 is still generated. For better environmental figures, process intensification with less diluted systems is mandatory. Setting product titers of ≈20 g L -1 with large recycling loops (95%) and mild wastewater treatment decrease the overall GWP to ≈10 kg CO 2  kg product -1 . GWP estimations at early development are useful in improving processes with low TRLs.
(© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)
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Grant Information: 101000560 European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme RADICALZ
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: biocatalysis; biotechnology; global warming potentials; green chemistry; sustainable chemistry
Substance Nomenclature: 142M471B3J (Carbon Dioxide)
0 (Solvents)
0 (Wastewater)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20251001 Date Completed: 20251124 Latest Revision: 20251126
Update Code: 20251126
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202501831
PMID: 41032448
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:In a previous work, equations were reported to estimate global warming potential (GWP, kg CO <subscript>2</subscript>  kg product <sup>-1</sup> ) of (bio)catalytic reactions, using substrate loadings and conversions. The approach is useful for reactions with similar mass-to-mass proportion (substrate to product). For processes with mass-to-mass change, or for fermentations, where the relationship substrate to product is elusive, GWP equations using product titers are more straightforward. This article introduces such product-titers-based GWP equations estimating the CO <subscript>2</subscript> released from energy (up- and downstream), as well as from the waste treatment, namely wastewater and solvents. Equations are applied to discuss whether aqueous (bio)transformations with product titers of 1 g L <sup>-1</sup> and extractive downstream are sustainable. When effluents are not recycled, &gt;6000 kg CO <subscript>2</subscript>  kg product <sup>-1</sup> is generated, because large aqueous media (1000 L) and solvents (1000-3000 L) are needed for one product kilogram. Even when solvent and water effluents are almost completely recycled (95%), &gt;100 kg CO <subscript>2</subscript>  kg product <sup>-1</sup> is still generated. For better environmental figures, process intensification with less diluted systems is mandatory. Setting product titers of ≈20 g L <sup>-1</sup> with large recycling loops (95%) and mild wastewater treatment decrease the overall GWP to ≈10 kg CO <subscript>2</subscript>  kg product <sup>-1</sup> . GWP estimations at early development are useful in improving processes with low TRLs.<br /> (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)
ISSN:1864-564X
DOI:10.1002/cssc.202501831