Title: A quantitative study and feasibility of industrial scale microbial production of fatty acids derived fuels and chemicals from plant biomass

Authors: Kathiresan Subramanian; Kagne Suresh

Addresses: Hospira Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, TN, India ' Department of Microbiology, Badrinarayan Barwale Mahavidhyalaya, Jalna, MS, India

Abstract: The need for sustainable renewable fuels and chemicals arises from energy expenses contributing to environmental issues. Microbial synthesis of high-energy fuels using consolidated bioprocesses is a promising step, utilising fatty acids as primary metabolites. Traditionally harvested from vegetable and animal oils for fuels and petrochemicals, fatty acids can now be produced through microbial conversion of biomass-derived sugars, offering a scalable and economically sustainable solution. This approach enables liquid transportation fuel and petrochemical production from renewable sources. Genetically engineered bacteria have demonstrated potential for producing biofuels, food, and medicines, though much of this technology remains untapped. Rising demand for environmentally friendly transportation fuels has driven advancements in biofuel production. Decades of research in microbial physiology and pathway engineering have made microbial engineering a viable strategy. Synthetic pathways in metabolic technology serve as effective hosts for creating fuel molecules, presenting a practical alternative for sustainable energy solutions.

Keywords: biomass; fatty acid; biofuel; Escherichia coli; Zymobacter palmae metabolic engineering; microbes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2026.152428

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2026 Vol.39 No.3, pp.215 - 238

Received: 13 Nov 2023
Accepted: 23 Jul 2024
Published online: 19 Mar 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article