Research Results

Professor Amao and his team successfully produced fumarate, a raw material for biodegradable plastics, using a multi-enzymatic system in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). This was achieved starting from pyruvate, a biomass-derived compound, and low concentrations of CO₂ of 15% or less, which is equivalent to the exhaust gas emitted from sources such as coal-fired power plants. Biodegradable plastics are plastics that return to nature after use, and their utilization is considered a promising solution to the serious environmental pollution caused by the disposal of petroleum-derived plastics. This research is expected to contribute to improving technologies for producing environmentally friendly plastic raw materials.