Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide of alternating d-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine residues present in the extracellular matrix of connective, epithelial, and nervous tissues. Due to its singular hydrating, rheological and adhesive properties, HA has found numerous cosmetic and medical applications. However, techno-economic analyses of high value-added bioproducts such as HA are scarce in the literature. Here, we present a techno-economic analysis of a process for producing HA using Streptococcus zooepidemicus, simulated in SuperPro Designer. In the baseline scenario, HA is produced by batch fermentation, reaching 2.5 g/L after 24 h. It is then centrifuged, diafiltered, treated with activated carbon and precipitated with isopropanol. The product is suitable for topical formulations and its production cost was estimated as 1115 $/kg. A similar scenario, based on fed-batch culture and assuming a titer of 5.0 g/L, led to a lower cost of 946 $/kg. Moreover, in two additional scenarios, 10% of the precipitated HA is diverted to the production of a highly pure and high-molecular weight HA, suitable for injectable applications. These scenarios resulted in higher capital and operating costs, but also in higher profits, because HA for injectable use has a higher selling price that more than compensates for its higher production costs.
Highlights
Received: 1 January 2021Hyaluronic acid (HA), known as hyaluronan, is a linear polysaccharide made of alternating D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues joined by β-1,3 and β-1,4 glycosidic bonds
High levels of residual medium components, especially salts (10.5 g/L) and yeast extract (21.1 g/L), are found in the broth as well; the latter is the main source of contaminating peptides that must be eliminated in the downstream portion of the process
The breakdown of the production costs indicates that the facility-dependent and labor costs dominate in all scenarios, which is expected for a product of relatively high value and low volume such as HA
Summary
Hyaluronic acid (HA), known as hyaluronan, is a linear polysaccharide made of alternating D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues joined by β-1,3 and β-1,4 glycosidic bonds It was first isolated from bovine vitreous humor, after which it is named: hyaloid is the Greek word for vitreous, and uronic acid refers to the glucuronic acid monomer. HA is found in various vertebrates; in humans, in particular, it is present in the extracellular matrix of connective, epithelial, and nervous tissues [1]. It is especially abundant in the synovial fluid, cartilage, the skin, the vitreous humor of the eye, the vocal folds, and the umbilical cord [2]. At concentrations as low as 0.2%, HA solutions present highly non-Newtonian, shear-thinning behavior, and at concentrations higher than
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