“Total contacted us based on its interest in the sustainable production of chemicals, including organic acids from biomass,” says Professor Gerrit Eggink, account manager for the bilateral project. “These acids can be used as building blocks for polymers such as polylactic acids, among other things. The downside of the micro-organisms that are currently being used is that they grow at high pH levels. This makes the recovery of organic acids expensive and results in unwanted residual waste, including gypsum. Total asked us to find a micro-organism that grows at low pH levels and is also resistant to high concentrations of organic acids.”