Manufacture of Energetic Materials From Renewable Feedstocks Using Engineered Microbes

Microbial synthesis of phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) from glucose is proposed as a green synthetic alternative to currently employed chemical synthetic routes. Phloroglucinol is a starting material used in the manufacture of the energetic material TATB (1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene). Key impediments in the microbial synthesis of phloroglucinol under fermentor-controlled conditions are identified. Proposed solutions could lead to a commercially viable route for the large-scale green manufacture of phloroglucinol. Increased availability is essential to the development of dual-use applications and markets for phloroglucinol both in the Department of Defense and in the private sector.BENEFITS: Phloroglucinol is produced only in China and India from TNT via a route that is environmentally problematic. The proposed microbial synthesis of phloroglucinol is environmentally benign and uses inexpensive, nontoxic glucose derived in the U.S. from abundant, renewable starch feedstocks.