Bio2Amine: Underpinning science published in Nature Communications

HydRegen’s Bio2Amine technology delivers sustainable, cost-efficient and safe chemical manufacturing with the power of biology: underpinning science published in Nature Communications.

HydRegen has a suite of technologies that combine the benefits of mild ‘biological’ conditions within existing intensified chemical infrastructure.

Bio2Amine delivers chemically-selective nitro-to-amine conversions, and unlocks 3 x CO2e savings and 40% cost savings compared to typical metal-catalyzed reactions.

This exciting biotechnology leverages the power of biology for the manufacture of a portfolio of amine containing products, mitigating the narrow selectivity and large waste component of other bio-based alternative.

Notable paper results

Substrate scope and chemical selectivity

• >30 aromatic nitro-to-amine reactions achieve full conversion and high isolated yield

• no delaogenation

• no C=X reductions

• no deactivation by S containing functional groups

• early work shows feasibility for aliphatic nitro-to-amine conversions

Catalyst handling

• heterogenous carbon supported catalyst achieves full conversion of 5 reuse cycles

• operates under 1 bar H2 gas with full conversion to amine

• no requirement for metal complexes, co-catalysts or cofactors

• access to prediction information via electrochemical analysis

Collaboration for scientific impact

See article about the academic journey here.

The collaborative effort from the research group led by Prof. Vincent at the University of Oxford and featuring HydRegen’s CEO, Dr. Holly Reeve, CSO Dr. Sarah Cleary and Program Manager Tara Lurshay has today been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

Having been involved in the invention, proof-of-concept and development of the product during their time at the University before launching the company, HydRegen has continued the research, focusing on the technical and commercial readiness of the Bio2Amine technology.

This research has led to an award of >£900,000 from Innovate UK for development of scaled processes for paracetamol and  mesalazine manufacture, in collaboration with AM Technology.

Other internal development programs target chemicals such as aniline, fampridine and pendimethalin underway.

Leveraging biology in place of metal-catalysts, Bio2Amine:

• has unparalleled ‘off-the-shelf’ substrate hit rates,

• can be implemented in existing hydrogenation infrastructure,

• operates under mild and safe process conditions,

• meets industrial chemistry needs for intensification and productivity, and

• delivers greener, cheaper and safer nitro-to-amine hydrogenation processes

How can we work with you?

Our evaluation product samples put the customer in control, allowing rapid assessment of a portfolio of nitro-to-amine reductions. Moving to joint development provides an opportunity to access HydRegen know-how to fast-track optimisation of a customers’ specific commercial process to meet their critical cost and sustainability goals.

What does this mean for HydRegen?

HydRegen has exclusive commercial rights to the breakthrough Bio2Amine product, extending their commercial biotech offering to include a step change for generation of aromatic amine intermediates and chemical products. 

With Bio2Amine, HydRegen is opening doors to a £80bn market opportunity over the next decade. Its real-world application potential make it a game-changer over a broad spectrum of sectors, from pharmaceuticals to specialty chemicals.

Industrial developments to advance key processes

Technical notes will be available on on our products page.

Mesalazine

Whilst working on technical development and commercialisation of the Bio2Amine technology HydRegen have focused on manufacture of Mesalazine. Also known as mesalamine, Mesalazine is a medication primarily used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases by reducing inflammation directly in the lining of the colon.

today, Bio2Amine delivers:

• more than 50 g per L of chemical product,

• with more than 2 million enzyme turnovers,

• with 3xCO2e and 40% cost savings, and

• has been operated in batch and flow reactors.

Paracetamol

The manufacture of paracetamol is another process of interest for HydRegen and its Bio2Amine technology.

Paracetamol is a widely used pain reliever and fever reducer. The industrial production of paracetamol typically uses a metal catalyst in the reduction process and is usually palladium on carbon, Raney nickel or iron and hydrochloric acid.

These metal catalysts are often costly, challenging to use and dispose of, difficult to store.

Using HydRegen’s Bio2Amine technology, Bio2Amine:

• operates at >40 g per liter

• 1-5 bar H2

• 25-60 oC

• operates for more than a week in continuous flow

• with more than 4 million enzyme turnovers

• ultimately providing a projected 40% cost saving and 3xCO2e saving.

Overview

HydRegen make biology operate like chemistry, delivering on sustainability, cost efficiency, and safety and security targets. Its renewable resources and next-generation technologies lower energy demands and costs, and ensuring safer chemistry.

Bio2Amine isn’t just an incremental improvement on existing chemical infrastructure, it’s a huge opportunity and commitment to a greener future. Its more than just a product, it’s a promise, to fast-track high productivity bio-based manufacturing in the chemical sector.

HydRegen is redefining next generation chemical manufacturing and aromatic amines are just the beginning.