4-Hydroxybenzoic acid

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid is one of the biochemicals supplied by Green Chemicals Co., Ltd. (GCC).
Recently, an increasing number of companies have been working on global environmental conservation (e.g., reducing CO2 emissions), SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), and LCA studies (quantifying the environmental impact of products). Please see this page if you are considering reducing the environmental impact of products derived from petrochemical raw materials.

Overview of 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid is an aromatic compound, widely used as a raw material in the production of liquid crystal polymers for electrical and electronic components and as a preservative (paraben).
The 4-hydroxybenzoic acid currently in circulation is produced through petrochemical processes (e.g., the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction) that use oil as a raw material.

We are developing overproduction technology for 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with the aim of helping build a recycling-based and decarbonized society by using bioprocesses to produce green chemicals from renewable plant resources.

Bio-based production of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid has been reported using microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas, but these microorganisms are not sufficiently resistant to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid itself and have low levels of product titers and yields.

We have succeeded in obtaining the world's highest product titer and yield by optimizing a unique bioprocess using coryneform bacterium with a high level of tolerance to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid as a production host, and by making various metabolic modifications, including enhancement of the shikimic acid pathway common to aromatic compound production and designing new artificial metabolic pathways.

In addition, the 4-hydroxybenzoic acid produced through this bioprocess can be recovered with high levels of purity through general-purpose condensation and purification methods.

Uses

Electronic equipment
  • Liquid crystal polymer materials
Cosmetics
  • Preservatives (paraben)
Other
  • Biophenol precursors
  • Raw materials for dyes and pigments
  • Raw materials for photographic chemicals
  • Plasticizer for nylon resin
  • Raw materials for adhesives

Patent Information

Patent
No.6327653		 Coryneform bacterium transformant and method for producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or salt thereof used in same
Patent
No.6327654		 Coryneform bacterium transformant having high level expression of highly active variant enzyme and production method for 4-hydroxybenzoic acid using same or for salt thereof

back to list