title: Alternative methods of processing bio-feedstocks in formulated consumer product design.
abstract: In this work new methods of processing bio-feedstocks in the formulated consumer products industry are discussed. Our current approach to formulated products design is based on heuristic knowledge of formulators that allows selecting individual compounds from a library of available materials with known properties. We speculate that most of the compounds (or functions) that make up the product to be designed can potentially be obtained from a few bio-sources. In this case, it may be possible to design a sequence of transformations required to convert feedstocks into products with desired properties, analogous to a metabolic pathway of a complex organism. We conceptualize some novel approaches to processing bio-feedstocks with the aim of bypassing the step of a fixed library of ingredients. Two approaches are brought forward: one making use of knowledge-based expert systems and the other making use of applications of metabolic engineering and dynamic combinatorial chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peremezhney
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Philipp-Maximilian
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapkin
keywords: evolution-based product design; expert systems; processing bio-feedstocks